Record participation and emotional farewell mark the end of a historic Paralympic Winter Games.
Sayer Zaland | ASJF News
The 2026 Winter Paralympics concluded on March 15 with a vibrant Closing Ceremony at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, bringing an end to a record-breaking edition of the Games.
A total of 611 Para athletes from 55 National Paralympic Committees competed across 79 medal events in six sports, surpassing the participation record previously set at the 2018 Winter Paralympics.
Five countries — El Salvador, Haiti, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Portugal — made their Winter Paralympic debut, reflecting the expanding global reach of the movement.
Medal Standings
China finished at the top of the medals table with 15 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze medals, followed by the United States with 13 gold, five silver and six bronze.
Russia secured third place with eight gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
Host nation Italy delivered its best performance in Paralympic Winter Games history, winning 16 medals (seven gold, seven silver and two bronze) and surpassing the country’s previous record set at the 1994 Winter Paralympics.
Ceremony Highlights
The closing ceremony, titled “Italian Souvenir,” blended music, dance and storytelling to celebrate the spirit of the Games. The program was directed by artistic director Angelo Bonello and creative director Francesco Paolo Conticello.
A symbolic narrative followed the journey of Sofia Tansell, a young Italian girl living with spinal muscular atrophy, whose story represented the resilience and aspirations of Paralympic athletes.
Performances included an appearance by Cirque du Soleil artist Dergin Tokmak, while dancers used illuminated ropes to form the Italian flag in a choreographed sequence.
Italian Paralympic stars including swimmer Simone Barlaam and Para athletics champion Martina Caironi carried the national flag during the ceremony.
Athletes Reflect on the Games
Canadian wheelchair curling skip Mark Ideson described the emotional moment his team secured gold.
“Just turning to look at the crowd when we realised we won gold… it was an incredible moment I’ll never forget.”
American star Oksana Masters, who captured four gold medals in Para cross-country skiing and Para biathlon, praised the atmosphere of the host nation.
German athlete Leonie Maria Walter highlighted the warmth of the crowd and the spirit of the Games, while Chinese wheelchair curler Nana Li reflected on the friendships formed during the competition.
Looking Ahead to 2030
During the ceremony, the Paralympic flag was formally transferred to representatives of the future host regions in France, marking the transition to the 2030 Winter Paralympics.
In his closing remarks, Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, praised the impact of the Games.
He said the competitions had “won hearts, changed attitudes and challenged assumptions,” emphasizing that Paralympic sport continues to reshape global perceptions of ability and human achievement.
Parsons then officially declared the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games closed, inviting athletes to reunite in the French Alps in four years’ time.