Milan-Cortina handed 2026 Winter Paralympic Games

GB’s para athletes have another Italian job on the horizon, with Milan-Cortina selected to host the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Two decades after Turin 2006, Italy will host its second Paralympics – this time, the world’s best and brightest will also strut their stuff in the world’s fashion capital Milan.

Menna Fitzpatrick and her guide Jen Kehoe became GB’s most successful Winter Paralympians of all-time at PyeongChang 2018, claiming four alpine skiing medals, including vision-impaired slalom gold on the final day of competition.

Another alpine skier, Millie Knight, also shone on the slopes with three medals to complete the British medal haul – and the stars of the home nations are aiming to be all the rage in seven years’ time.

“I would like to send my warmest congratulations to the Milan-Cortina 2026 bid committee for their success in winning the right to stage the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons.

“Italy has a very rich history of staging major winter Para sport events, having staged multiple World Championships, as well as the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games.

“These Games promise much for future generations of Italians – they increase sport participation, encourage sustainability, and drive social inclusion.

“I am confident these will be great Games and Games that will engage whole new audiences in Para winter sports.

“One of the stand-out features of the bid is the use of existing or temporary venues, with a strong emphasis on long-term legacy use.

“Throughout the process, Milan-Cortina 2026 has been in close liaison with the IPC and has done much to drive down costs in line with Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm reforms.

“We look forward to working with the organising committee that will be established over the next seven years.”

At the 2006 Games in Turin, the wheelchair curling team of Frank Duffy, Ken Dickson, Tom Killin, Angie Malone and Michael McCreadie won GB’s sole medal with mixed team silver.

Milan-Cortina 2026 is set to take place on March 6-15, with Beijing 2022 taking centre stage beforehand.

Chelsey Gotell, IPC Athletes’ Council chairperson added: “With [this] decision, Para athletes around the world can now plan their journey to the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

“I am confident that between now and the Games, the organising committee will place athletes at the heart of its decision-making and will deliver athlete-centred Games.”