Verona, Italy – The XIV Winter Paralympics officially began Friday evening in the historic Verona Arena, but the opening ceremony was marked by a subdued atmosphere, geopolitical tensions, and a noticeable absence of full national delegations. Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the Games open at 9:19 PM local time (21:19 CET), twelve days after the close of the Olympic Winter Games held at the same venue. Prior to the declaration, athletes from 28 of the 55 participating nations paraded into the arena, including representatives from Russia, and Belarus.
The athlete parade lacked the usual vibrancy of international sporting events. Instead of athletes carrying their national flags, videos of teams – including the German delegation with flag bearers Anna-Lena Forster and Jörg Wedde – were displayed on a large screen while volunteers carried all 55 flags onto the arena floor. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) explained this decision was due to the logistical challenges posed by the distance between Verona and the competition venues, making full team participation difficult.
“It felt strange,” said alpine skiing hopeful Anna-Lena Forster, according to reports. “Somehow, it was also sad to see. When only a small group walks in, it doesn’t create the atmosphere you’re used to, that radiant joy on the athletes’ faces. And the video clips were very small and short.”
Political Boycotts Shadow Opening Ceremony
Several nations chose to boycott the opening ceremony altogether as a protest against the IPC’s decision to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete. The IPC confirmed that seven national Paralympic committees – Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine – were absent due to political objections. The decision to allow participation under a neutral flag has sparked considerable debate within the Paralympic movement.
Canada, Great Britain, Germany, and France, however, opted out of the parade for logistical reasons, focusing on preparations for the upcoming competitions, according to the IPC. The German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) stated Tuesday that its decision was made in consultation with the team, prioritizing focus on the competitions and expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian delegation.
“The decision, which was not easy, was made in close dialogue with the team,” said Idriss Gonschinska, the new Chairman of the DBS. The DBS is sending its second-largest German delegation in Winter Paralympic history, with 40 athletes and eight guides. Curling is the only sport where Germany will not have representation.
Adding to the complexities, Iran’s sole athlete, Nordic skier Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, was unable to travel to Italy due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the IPC announced shortly before the ceremony.
A Ceremony Amidst Accessibility Improvements
The 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, featuring 611 athletes from 55 countries, are being held across five venues in Milan, Cortina, and Val di Fiemme. This marks Italy’s second time hosting the Winter Paralympics. The opening ceremony took place in the Arena di Verona, a 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater older than the Colosseum in Rome, which has been modernized with a focus on accessibility. The Italian government invested EUR 20 million to improve accessibility in and around Verona, including the Arena itself and surrounding public spaces.
The ceremony, directed by Alfredo Accatino and Adriano Martella, drew inspiration from the Games’ theme, ‘IT’s your vibe,’ aiming for a joyful and accessible experience. The stage design was inspired by a single drop of water transforming into solid forms to represent winter sports.
Members of the German alpine team watched the opening ceremony together at the German House in Cortina, displaying small flags and cheering as the German flag was carried into the arena. “It was nice that we were all together here at the German House and experienced it together, and that created a good atmosphere. That’s good for team spirit,” said four-time Paralympic medalist Anna-Lena Forster.
Similarly, Nordic athletes in the Paralympic Village in Predazzo planned a public viewing event, with the DBS setting up a lounge with a television for the team.
The Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games run from March 6th to March 15th. Competition begins Saturday with events across six sports. The Games promise to showcase incredible athletic achievement, but the opening ceremony served as a stark reminder of the political complexities impacting the world of sport.
What’s Next: The first medal events are scheduled for Saturday, March 7th, with competitions in alpine skiing, biathlon, and cross-country skiing. Full schedules and live results can be found on the official Milan Cortina 2026 website: https://www.paralympic.org/news/milano-cortina-2026-opening-ceremony
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