The Winter Paralympics in Milan Cortina are officially starting following days of controversies surrounding the geopolitical landscape, particularly regarding the involvement of athletes from Russia and Belarus. This situation has sparked significant debate over their participation, but now the focus shifts to the athletic competition itself. The Italian team features strong contenders, including Renè De Silvestro and Chiara Mazzel in alpine skiing, who are well-positioned to achieve remarkable results.

Renè De Silvestro, a 29-year-old from South Tyrol, is making his third appearance at the Games and ranks among the favorites in technical disciplines after exceptional results at the 2025 World Championships, where he won a gold medal in the giant slalom and a silver in the slalom. Chiara Mazzel, also 29 and from Trentino, aims for success in her second Olympic appearance, having previously secured notable second places at the World Championships and striving to perform well in front of a home crowd following a seventh place finish in Beijing 2022.

Additionally, Giacomo Bertagnolli is another expected star to watch as he gears up to compete fiercely for medals. With the backdrop of mounting tensions and a canceled opening ceremony initially intended to showcase all athletes together, the Paralympics promises to shift the narrative from conflict to competition, highlighting the extraordinary talent and determination of all participating athletes, regardless of the controversies that preceded it.