The 2026 Winter Olympics came to a close on February 22nd. Proceeding those games are the Paralympic games. The Paralympics are a series of international multi-sport events that involve athletes with a range of physical setbacks. These games are hosted in Milan similar to the Olympic games. Like the Olympics games, the Paralympics host an opening ceremony. During this time, all the athletes gather from 52 different countries to get an exciting start to these special games.
Compared to the Olympic games, the Paralympics only hosts 6 different events. So, the Paralympic games last only 9 days. These events are: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para snowboarding, sled hockey, and wheelchair curling.
Athletes train for years and years for these games while pushing their strength and skill to the limit. Many of the athletes use specialized equipment in order to allow them to perform to their greatest ability. Each individual sport has its own adaptations to increase maximum comfortability for athletes.
The Winter Paralympics began in 1976 in Sweden. Since that time, the event has grown to be one of the most watched and enjoyed events. The games are organized by the International Paralympic Committee and they aim to encourage equality and inclusion through the different sporting events.
For many athletes, the journey to compete has been a challenge. Most of the competitors began their career or lives with serious injuries or severe medical conditions that ultimately changed their lives. Although they were faced with those challenges, the athletes made it to the highest competitive level possible.
The Paralympics aren’t as heavily broadcasted as the Olympics are. They tend to gain less coverage than the Olympics possibly due to the limited number of sports. But, make sure to tune in to these games on channels like NBC, CNBC, and USA Network.