On March 15, local time, the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics concluded in Milan, Italy. At this Winter Paralympic Games, the Chinese sports delegation worked hard, worked together, and strived bravely. With 15 gold medals, 13 silver medals, and 16 bronze medals, a total of 44 medals, it ranked first in both the gold medal list and the medal list. It created the best results in the history of overseas participation in the Winter Paralympics and wrote a new chapter in winter sports for Chinese disabled people.
“Since the opening of this Winter Paralympic Games, the Chinese sports delegation has always kept in mind the entrustment of the Party and the people, shouldered the lofty mission of fighting for the country and bringing glory to the country, vigorously promoted the Chinese sports spirit, the Beijing Winter Olympics spirit, and the Paralympic spirit, fought tenaciously, surpassed themselves, and fully demonstrated the spirit of China’s disabled people in the new era. Chang Zheng, member of the Party Leadership Group of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Vice Chairman, and Deputy Head of the Chinese Sports Delegation, said that while achieving great results, the Chinese delegation always insisted on "taking the gold medal for morality, the gold medal for style, and the gold medal for cleanliness", and achieved both sports performance and spiritual civilization.
This Winter Paralympics is the seventh time that my country has participated in the Winter Paralympics. It is also the time that my country has participated in the most events and the largest number of athletes in the Winter Paralympics overseas. The number of athletes ranks first among all delegations in this Winter Paralympic Games. "From the first Winter Paralympic Games in 2002, when only 4 athletes participated in 2 major events and 8 minor events, to this year, 70 athletes have qualified to participate in 6 major events and 73 minor events. Such changes reflect the vigorous development of ice and snow sports for people with disabilities in my country." Chang Zheng said.
On the evening of March 15, the closing ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics was held at the Cortina Olympic Curling Hall. Paralympic cross-country skiing and biathlon athlete Cai Jiayun, who won three gold medals at this Winter Paralympic Games, and wheelchair curler Wang Meng, who won the first wheelchair curling mixed doubles gold medal in the history of the Winter Paralympics, served as the flag bearers of the Chinese sports delegation at the closing ceremony, holding the national flag high.
The closing ceremony used a performance that integrated sports, art, culture and music to celebrate the Paralympic athletes who fought hard on the field and expressed gratitude to the volunteers who worked hard.
At the end of the closing ceremony, the Winter Paralympic flame was extinguished and the flag was handed over to France, the host of the next Winter Paralympic Games.
It is understood that the next Winter Paralympics will be held in the French Alps in March 2030. The last time France hosted the Winter Paralympics was in 1992.
(Guangming Daily, Milan, March 16)
"Guangming Daily" (Page 9, March 17, 2026)
