It's a good time to be a sports fan. The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is set to kick off this weekend in Melbourne, Australia is hot with Matildas fever again as we host the 2026 Women's Asian Cup, and the Winter Paralympics is about to grace our televisions.
Less than two weeks after the Winter Olympics closing ceremony, the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games begin on 6 March.
It'll be the 50th anniversary of the Games, with more than 600 athletes around the world competing for Paralympic titles in 79 medal events.
But the Games have also been caught up by the war in the Middle East, with several athletes struggling to reach Italy due to widespread flight disruptions.
Russian and Belarusian athletes will also compete under their own flag for the first time in more than a decade.
In response, Ukraine announced it would boycott the opening ceremony. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania and the Netherlands also planned to boycott or scale back their attendance.
Here's what you need to know about the Paralympic Games.
When do the Winter Paralympics start?
The Milan-Cortina Games will officially begin on Friday, 6 March local time, which translates to early Saturday morning AEDT.
The opening ceremony will start at 8pm local time. That's 6am AEDT — so get your early morning coffee ready.
The Games run for nine days and will wrap up on 15 March.
Where are the Winter Paralympics being held?
The Paralympic Games will be held in Italy and hosted by two cities — Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, both in the north of the country.
It'll be the second time the Winter Games have been held in Italy, with the northern Italian city of Torino hosting the Paralympics 20 years ago in 2006.
While events for the Winter Olympics were held across seven cities in three northern Italian regions, the Winter Paralympics will take place across just four — Tesaro, Verona, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milano.
What sports are there?
While this year's Winter Olympics featured 16 distinct sports, six sports are included in the Paralympics.
These are:
- Para alpine skiing
- Para biathlon
- Para cross-country skiing
- Para ice hockey
- Para snowboarding
- Wheelchair curling
Australian athletes will compete in four sports — para alpine skiing, para biathlon, para cross-country skiing and para snowboarding.
Athletes may participate in different categories according to their type of disability.
For example, several categories — including alpine skiing, biathlon and cross-country skiing — are divided into standing (athletes with physical disabilities who compete standing, sometimes with the aid of prosthetics), sitting (athletes who use a sitski or monoski) or vision impaired categories (who compete with a guide).
Snowboarding athletes are categorised depending on whether they have a physical disability affecting one or both of their arms or legs
Wheelchair curling is only open to those with disabilities in their legs, such as amputees, those with spinal injuries and cerebral palsy. It's also a mixed-gender sport and includes a doubles competition.
What Australians should I keep an eye out for?
The Australian team consists of 12 athletes and two guides who will compete in four sports.
Australia's para alpine ski great Michael Milton will return to Games following a speedy recovery from a fracture in his femur.
At 52 years old, he'll be Australia's oldest Winter Paralympian in the event's 50-year history.
He'll compete in his sixth Games — 38 years after his first — and is the country's most decorated Winter Paralympian with six golds to his name.
Conversely, at 16, his teammate Liana France will become Australia's youngest female winter Paralympian. She will compete in the giant slalom and slalom events.
The team is also bolstered by two summer Paralympic gold medallists who have switched to winter events, Amanda Reid and Lauren Parker.
Reid, also Australia's first Indigenous winter Paralympian, has switched from track cycling to para snowboarding.
Parker, who won gold in para triathlon and para cycling at the Paris 2024 Games, will compete in biathlon and cross-country.
Josh Hanlon, a former AFL prospect and now a para alpine sit skier, will compete in all five alpine events.
Georgia Gunew and guide Ethan Jackson were named for the women's giant slalom and slalom.
How can I watch the Winter Paralympics?
Channel Nine own the rights to the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. You can watch the Winter Paralympics on Channel Nine, 9Now, or Stan Sport Online.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
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