The Paralympics open under the starry sky of Verona amidst spectacle, absences, and tensions

Under the starry sky of the Verona Arena, amidst spectacular choreographies and the echo of geopolitical tensions, the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games have officially opened. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, declared the opening of the event in an amphitheater transformed for one evening into the beating heart of world sports.

However, the opening ceremony was marked by reduced numbers and diplomatic controversies. Of the 55 participating nations, only 29 paraded with their athletes on the red carpet of the Arena, with volunteers instead of flag bearers. According to the International Paralympic Committee, many absences are due to logistical reasons — the long travel times from the Olympic villages and "performance reasons", given the proximity of the events scheduled for tomorrow morning.

However, the political rift remains evident: seven nations - Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine - chose not to participate in the parade to protest against the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes with anthems and flags. This was compounded by the forced absence of the only athlete from Iran, Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, who was unable to reach Italy due to tensions in the Middle East. "Not competing due to factors beyond his control is heartbreaking for the athlete", commented the president of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, who spoke of a "disappointing page for world sports".

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During the parade, the audience at the Arena maintained an atmosphere of respect: no boos of disapproval were heard when the representatives of Belarus, Russia, Israel, and the United States were called. Warm applause accompanied many delegations, with a standing ovation for Italy and particularly intense applause for Ukraine.

Despite the atmosphere marked by boycotts, the event offered moments of high artistic value under the theme "Life in Motion". The Unesco monument vibrated thanks to the duet of drummers between Stewart Copeland and Cornell Hrisca Munn and the projections of the work "Circulatory System" by the artist Jago. The parade, accompanied by the rhythms of Meduza, saw volunteers carrying the flags of the absent nations, while short films recorded by athletes remaining in the villages rolled on the big screen.

In the honorary tribune were Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the presidents of the Chamber and Senate, Lorenzo Fontana and Ignazio La Russa, and the ministers Matteo Salvini, Andrea Abodi, and Alessandra Locatelli. After the speeches by Giovanni Malagò and the president of the Paralympic Committee Parsons, the most awaited moment: the entrance of the Paralympic flame.

It was Bebe Vio, a global icon of the movement, who was the last torchbearer to bring the sacred fire into the Arena for the official start of a competition that from tomorrow will see athletes engaged in six disciplines across Milano, Cortina, and the alpine valleys of Tesero. "The movement is energy that unites", was the message delivered from the stage, breaking down barriers. The focus now shifts to the competition fields, with the hope that sport can overshadow, at least for the duration of a race, the shadows of war.