Verona's Roman amphitheatre hosts the Paralympic Games opening ceremony, facing a dramatically altered global backdrop. The message of diversity and inclusion must contend with absences tied to protests against allowing Russian and Belarusian flags and air-travel chaos. Due to conflict, Iran's sole athlete, Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, will not participate.
The ceremony, "Life in Motion," will feature performances by Stewart Copeland, Mimi Caruso, and DJ Miky Bionic. Acrobatic pilots will streak the IPC's colours over the event.
Several nations, including Ukraine, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, are boycotting the parade in solidarity with Ukraine. Other nations cite "performance reasons" or solidarity with Ukraine for their absence. The IPC expects approximately 30 national Paralympic delegations to attend, with volunteers carrying flags for 56 competing nations. Up to two athletes per country will march behind the flagbearer.
The Milano Cortina Paralympics, running March 6-15, will feature a record 612 athletes in 79 medal events across six sports, including new events and five debut countries. This surpasses the previous record set in Pyeongchang 2018. The Paralympic flame will be lit in Verona's 2,000-year-old Arena, a UNESCO-listed heritage site. Athletes will compete across Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo, and Val di Fiemme.