Flagbearers Cai Jiayun (L) and Wang Meng of the delegation of China parade during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

　　CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, March 15 (Xinhua) -- International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons declared the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games closed on Sunday.

　　The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," was staged at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, a historic venue that hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and returned to the Olympic and Paralympic stage in 2026, spanning seven decades.

　　The Games officially opened on March 6 and featured 79 events across six sports in three competition clusters. Para alpine skiing, para snowboard and wheelchair curling took place in Cortina. Para biathlon and para cross-country skiing were held in Val di Fiemme, while para ice hockey was staged in Milan.

　　With over 600 athletes from 55 delegations, the 2026 Winter Paralympics marked the 50th anniversary of the inaugural edition in 1976. It was also the first time the Games had returned to Italy since Turin 2006. El Salvador, Haiti, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Portugal all made their Winter Paralympic debut at Milan-Cortina.

　　"These Paralympic Winter Games have been a record-breaking success. The biggest and most beautiful Winter Paralympics with more athletes, more nations, more women and more global broadcast and digital coverage than ever before," Parsons said in his closing speech.

　　"Every race and every match told a story - a story of resilience and a story of possibility. A story that will inspire long after these Games close. Change starts with sport and the true power of these Games goes far beyond competition," he added.