Winter Paralympics 2026: Russian and Belarusian athletes parade behind national flags at the opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was held at the Arena di Verona, a 2,000-year-old amphitheater and UNESCO World Heritage Site, although no competitions were held in the city.

More than 660 athletes from 56 countries in six sports will take part in the games, which run until March 15, with Great Britain sending a 25-strong team to compete.

No Great Britain athlete attended Friday’s ceremony, for logistical rather than political reasons, as several members of the team competed across the Dolomites on Saturday morning.

In all, only 28 of the 55 countries competing in Milan-Cortina had athletes march in person during the show.

For those who were not there, and were not protesting, pre-recorded videos of the flag bearers and their teammates were played, accompanied by a loud soundtrack from Italian house artists Meduza.

The ceremony featured a nod to Verona’s reputation as the City of Love, thanks to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in the city, culminating in the simultaneous lighting of the Paralympic cauldrons in Milan and Cortina.

“Paralympic athletes are poised to redefine potential, push the boundaries of human ability and show what humans can achieve when they are respected and provided with opportunities to succeed,” Parsons said.

“In the coming days, a record number of athletes and countries will showcase the best of Paralympic winter sports. Through their exceptional athletic displays, Paralympic athletes will remind the world that disability is not an obstacle in itself, but an amazing dimension of human diversity.

“The Paralympic performances will change attitudes and inspire people everywhere – those in the venues or watching at home, those dreaming of their futures, and those who have yet to discover the power of sport.”