Latvia is set to begin its participation in the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games, as their small team has already arrived at the accreditation point at Venice Airport. The atmosphere in Cortina, where the wheelchair curling events are being held, resembles that of the Olympics, with environmental advertisements remaining unchanged on the streets. However, travel in a wheelchair presents additional challenges for athletes, especially in light of flight restrictions due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East affecting some countries' athletes' arrivals.

Latvia will be represented in two events in wheelchair curling at the historic Cortina ice arena, known for hosting the Olympic hockey tournament back in 1956. The mixed doubles team comprises world champions Poļina Rožkova and Agris Lasmans, who will play their first match against the USA on Wednesday evening. Ranked sixth in the world, they will also face teams from China, Great Britain, Estonia, Italy, South Korea, and Japan during the preliminary rounds leading up to March 9.

The challenges of international travel for Paralympic athletes underscore the additional barriers faced by competitors with disabilities, representing a broader issue of accessibility in sports. As the games unfold, the performance of Latvia's team and the overall experience of the participants in navigating these challenges could provide key insights into the ongoing discourse surrounding inclusivity in sporting events.