Opening Ceremony Held for XIV Winter Paralympic Games in Italy

The opening ceremony for the XIV Winter Paralympic Games has taken place in Verona, Italy. The event marks the official start of the international competition, which will see over 600 athletes from 56 countries competing for medals.

Kazakhstan's national team will be represented in two sports: para biathlon and para cross-country skiing. The athletes set to compete are Yerbol Khamitov, Alexander Gerlits, Sergey Usoltsev, and Yury Berezin in both disciplines. Additionally, Nurlan Alimov, Anna Grachyova, and Vladislav Kobal will participate exclusively in para cross-country skiing events.

Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan Serik Zharasbayev addressed the team's participation. "These Games are another important opportunity for our national team to demonstrate their skill and defend the honor of the country with dignity," he stated. He highlighted the long and challenging preparation journey undertaken by each athlete and expressed confidence in their readiness to fight for top results.

The Vice Minister also called upon all Kazakhstani citizens to support the national team. "Tomorrow marks the first competitive day for our athletes. I wish our sportsmen luck, fair competition, and bright victories," Zharasbayev added.

The XIV Winter Paralympic Games Milan-Cortina 2026 are scheduled to run from March 6th to March 15th. A total of 79 medal sets will be awarded across six sports: para cross-country skiing, para biathlon, wheelchair curling, para snowboard, alpine skiing, and para ice hockey.

Competition for Team Kazakhstan begins on March 7th with the para biathlon sprint event over a distance of 7.5 kilometers. The honor of the nation will be defended by Yerbol Khamitov, Alexander Gerlits, Sergey Usoltsev, and Yury Berezin in this first event.