Less than a month until the Paralympics, Japan finalizes Milan–Cortina preparations

By Barrier Free Japan

February 7 2026

TOKYO – With less than a month to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games open on March 6, Japan is stepping up final preparations for a campaign that will feature broad representation across the six-sport program, including the return of its para ice hockey team.

The Games will run from March 6 through March 15, following the Winter Olympics in the same host regions of northern Italy.

Japan’s para ice hockey squad secured qualification by defeating Norway 8–2 in final qualification play, marking a return to the Paralympic stage after the team failed to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Games.

The re-emergence of the sled hockey program is being viewed domestically as a sign of renewed depth in Japan’s winter para-sport system, alongside traditional medal pathways in alpine skiing and Nordic events.

Among the athletes preparing for Milan–Cortina is veteran alpine skier Taiki Morii, a multiple-time Paralympic medalist and long-standing member of Japan’s winter delegation, expected to provide experience on the slopes.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK has secured exclusive domestic broadcasting rights and plans comprehensive coverage of the Games, bringing competition across all sports to national audiences.

The Milano Cortina Paralympics will open with the opening ceremony in Verona, launching nine days of competition across alpine, Nordic, snowboard, ice hockey and wheelchair curling events.