Everything you need to know about the six sports at the 2026 Winter Paralympics скачать в хорошем качестве

Everything you need to know about the six sports at the 2026 Winter Paralympics

Everything you need to know about the six sports at the 2026 Winter Paralympics The 2026 Winter Paralympics have officially begun in Italy, marking a historic 50th anniversary for the Games. This year's event in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo features a record number of athletes and medal events, with over 600 competitors from 56 nations gathered to compete on the world stage. Athletes will be competing for 79 sets of medals across six primary sports. Here is a breakdown of the events and how they are played. Para alpine skiing A staple of the Winter Paralympics since 1976, Para alpine skiing includes five major events: slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, and super combined. With 30 medal events split between men and women, it is one of the most prominent sports at the Games. Athletes compete in three main categories: standing, sitting, or vision impaired. Those in the sitting category use a specialized monoski, which features a seat mounted on a single ski with a shock absorber to handle uneven terrain. Vision-impaired skiers race with a guide who provides directions via radio. Para biathlon This sport tests both physical endurance and mental composure by combining cross-country skiing with target shooting. Athletes must stop at specific intervals to shoot at targets from a distance of 10 meters. For every missed shot, athletes must either ski a penalty lap or have a time penalty added to their score. Like alpine skiing, competitors race in standing, sitting, or vision-impaired categories. Para cross-country skiing In Para cross-country skiing, athletes rely on pure strength to navigate distances ranging from short sprints to 20-kilometer races. The competition includes individual starts and relays. A unique results calculation system is used to factor the times of different athletes based on their functional ability, allowing those from various divisions to compete against one another fairly. Para ice hockey Commonly known as sled hockey, this fast-paced sport was invented in the 1960s by players who wanted to continue playing hockey despite physical impairments. Instead of skates, players sit on double-blade sleds and use two short sticks with metal picks at the ends to propel themselves and hit the puck. The United States has been a dominant force in this sport, winning gold in five of the last six Paralympic Games. Para snowboard Snowboarders with physical disabilities affecting their legs use prosthetics or modified equipment to navigate the slopes. The program features two main events: banked slalom and snowboard cross. In banked slalom, athletes take individual runs down a winding course, with their best time determining their rank. In snowboard cross, four athletes race simultaneously, with the top finishers advancing through heats to the final. Wheelchair curling Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, wheelchair curling is a mixed-team event for athletes with physical disabilities in their legs. Unlike traditional curling, there is no sweeping involved. Players use a delivery stick to push the stone toward the target, or "house." This year's Games also introduce a mixed doubles competition for the first time, adding another layer of strategy to the event.