Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics closes as China tops medal tally

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.

China topped the medal table with 15 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze medals, marking its best-ever performance at an overseas Winter Paralympics. Runner-up the United States won 13 golds, five silvers and six bronzes, followed by Russia in third with eight golds, one silver and three bronzes. Host Italy finished fourth with seven golds, seven silvers and two bronzes.

Para cross-country skier and biathlete Cai Jiayun and wheelchair curler Wang Meng served as China's flagbearers at the closing ceremony.

The 25-year-old Cai won China's first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics and finished with three para biathlon golds in total.

In wheelchair curling mixed doubles, a newly introduced event at the Winter Paralympics, the 37-year-old Wang and her teammate Yang Jinqiao, 24, won a historic gold for China.

"As the Paralympic flame is extinguished, the spirit it represents does not fade. It travels home with every athlete, every spectator, and every viewer, every one of them watching tonight inspired by these remarkable days," Parsons said.

The ceremony also revisited emotional moments from the Games and paid tribute to organizers, volunteers and all participants. The Paralympic flag was handed over to the hosts of the French Alps 2030 Winter Games.

"I call upon Paralympic athletes from all over the world to meet again in the French Alps in four years' time when, once again, Paralympic sport will transform the world," Parsons said.

Flagbearers Cai Jiayun 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/Lian Yi)

Flagbearers Cai Jiayun (L) and Wang Meng (C) 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/Wang Kaiyan)

Flagbearers Cai Jiayun (R) 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/Hou Jun)

Artists perform during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

A person takes pictures of the cauldron during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)

Artists perform during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

An artist performs during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

An artist performs during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Kaiyan)

Artists perform during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Artists perform during the closing ceremony of Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy, March 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Hou Jun)