Feature: Cortina's historic venue returns to center stage at Winter Paralympics

by sportswriters Li Chunyu and Zheng Zhi

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Decorated on balcony or through windows, a blue-and-white flag reading "Cortina, Host City, 1956 and 2026" is visible almost everywhere, as the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics officially opened on Friday and the mountain town's Olympic story comes full circle.

70 years ago, the 1956 Winter Olympics was staged in Cortina D'Ampezzo. Now, excitement is building as the city once again takes center stage.

"Italy feels like the Paralympic movement's second home, having hosted the first Paralympic Games in 1960, and, of course, 20 years ago, the Turin 2006 Paralympic Winter Games," remarked International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.

One venue in particular tells the story of this new chapter: the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

Nestled in the snow-capped Dolomites, the stadium was originally built in 1955 to host the opening ceremony and figure skating competitions at Italy's first Winter Olympics in 1956. At Milan-Cortina 2026, it is again at the heart of the action, staging Olympic curling and Paralympic wheelchair curling.

"During the Winter Paralympics, Cortina is at the center, basically three out of the six sports. The same discipline curling was held here, just like the National Aquatics Center for Beijing 2022," said Michele Camarda, event general manager of Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

"In the past decades, we decided with the community of Cortina, and the stadium is under a sort of heritage protection to keep as it was at the beginning. Some events of curling were held here, and the venue also offered possibility to Cortina citizens, children, and all the guests to figure skating or ice hockey," introduced Camarda.

Two days before the opening ceremony in Verona, wheelchair curling mixed doubles made its Paralympic debut on Wednesday, becoming the first event to start at these Games. Athletes said they were struck by the cheerful atmosphere in the historic hall.

Italian curler Paolo Ioriatti found many local children came to enthusiastically support them. "Support like that always gives us extra power. We are not used to so many people watching us play, but they gave us strength," said the 54-year-old.

What impressed Chinese pair Wang Meng and Yang Jinqiao most was the opening light show on the ice before the match.

"The venue here is definitely a large one for curling events. The light show is amazing. We kept learning the ice and tried to perform our best on the international stage," said 24-year-old Yang in his first Winter Paralympic appearance.

Notably, the stadium maintains its original wooden stand and doors, allowing people feel the sense of history.

"I love the old feel. This venue is gorgeous, and the crowd is amazing," said American curler Stephen Emt. "We aim to get on the podium, and pursue the gold medal."

The mixed doubles wheelchair curling event features eight teams in round-robin play and runs through March 11. The wheelchair curling mixed team event will take place from March 7 to 14.

The Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium will also host the Winter Paralympics closing ceremony on March 15, adding another landmark moment to its legacy.

"We started with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan. The Winter Olympics closing ceremony and the Winter Paralympics opening ceremony were in Verona Olympic Arena, one of the most famous Italian arenas in the world. Then to finish in Cortina is the best conclusion of these experience and these Games," said Camarda. ■