sports
March 15, 2026
More countries, bigger audience but controversy lingered in Milano Cortina
Russia’s involvement meant politics could not be avoided at a Paralympics more competitive than ever
TL;DR
- Milano Cortina Paralympics set records with 55 competing countries and 27 medal-winning nations.
- There was a significant audience increase, with 414 million YouTube views and packed crowds for events like para ice hockey.
- Despite challenging conditions, competition was high, with few dominant athletes, though some, like Oksana Masters and Veronika Aigner, won multiple golds.
- The inclusion of Russia, despite the war in Ukraine, caused controversy, leading to boycotts from Ukraine and other countries.
- IPC President Andrew Parsons defended Russia's inclusion, emphasizing sport's inclusive nature and separating state from sport.
- Future Winter Paralympic Games aim to introduce new sports, including women's ice hockey.
Continue reading the original article