Organizers of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games have promised to deliver an unforgettable sporting occasion as they marked the one-year countdown to the event at a press conference in Milan on Wednesday. Scheduled to take place from March 6-15 next year, the event is also significant as it will mark the 50th anniversary of the first Paralympic Winter Games which were held in Sweden in 1976. At the press conference, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons stated that next year's edition is expected to be "the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet" and said it will "captivate the minds" of spectators and TV audiences worldwide. Parsons also noted that the success of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics has had a profound impact on the growth of winter sports, inspiring athletes and teams worldwide to reach an even higher level of excellence. The Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games are expected to gather more than 600 athletes from 50 countries and regions competing across six sports, with a total of 79 gold medals up for grabs. The opening ceremony will be held at the historic Arena di Verona - a Roman amphitheatre dating back nearly 2,000 years - while the closing ceremony will take place at the Ice Stadium in Cortina d'Ampezzo, with the competition venues spread across northern Italy. The Paralympic torch relay will span 11 days, covering 2,000 kilometers and seeing 501 torchbearers participating, with organizers emphasizing that the relay will not only mark the countdown to the Games but also serve as a platform to promote inclusivity and unity worldwide. Shotlist: Milan, Italy - March 5, 2025: 1. Various of press conference in progress; attendees; 2. Various of officials, athlete representatives posing for photos; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Parsons, President, International Paralympic Committee: "I think the sport is going to be great after an incredible Games in Beijing 2022, where the sport really grew, the winter sport, and of course with the performance of the Chinese team, which was amazing. So we know that this will push the other teams as well to get to a higher level. So I think the sport here is going to be fantastic."; 4. Pedestrians; 5. Various of mascots of Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Winter Paralympic Games on street; tourists. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]