Milano Cortina Paralympics 2026 ultimate guide: Curling stones 'stolen' just hours before first round
A curling scandal has rocked the Winter Paralympics just hours before competition began after two stones were stolen from the venue, World Curling revealed.
Organisers were preparing the sheet for the inaugural mixed doubles curling event when they discovered two of the stones had been stolen from the venue.
The discovery was made during a routine check at the stadium on Monday in Milan, with the two stones believed to be worth at least $1400 AUD each.
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The stones were used during the Olympic mixed doubles tournament, meaning they were approved competition standard stones.
Organisers have now been forced to bring in spare stones from the same set, also confirmed to be at the correct standards, for the preliminary rounds this week.
World Curling confirmed that local authorities were investigating the incident.
"Unfortunately, there has been a situation where two stones were stolen from the venue," World Curling told the Press Association.
A detailed view of a curling stone and stick during a Wheelchair Curling mixed doubles round. Getty
"The spare stones from the set are now being used and have been brought to the same specifications as the rest of the set so there has been no impact on competition."
It is unclear at this point who the thief may be, with authorities currently reviewing the venue's security footage to learn more about the incident.
The incident is not the first time the sport of curling has gained attention in Milano Cortina, with team Canada put under the spotlight due to cheating accusations.
Watch the Winter Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event live & on demand, every medal in 4K, and exclusive international coverage on Stan Sport.
Here is everything you need to know about the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games:
When and where is the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games?
The Winter Paralympics will officially begin on March 7 (AEDT) with the opening ceremony at the Arena di Verona, however, competition started on March 5 (Italian time).
The preliminary rounds of the wheelchair mixed doubles curling started March 5 along with the final training runs of the Para alpine skiing events.
All competition will be held across three clusters around Italy, being Milan, Cortina D'Ampezzo and Val de Fiemme.
What events will be held?
There are six sports taking place at the Winter Paralympic Games, with a total 79 events set to get underway within those respective sports.
Fifty-six nations will battle for medals, and the green and gold colours will be seen across four of the six sports at the prestigious competition.
Those sports are Para cross-country, biathlon, snowboarding and alpine skiing.
Para ice hockey and wheelchair curling will not have any Australian representation.
Team Australia's athletes showcase the uniforms for Milano Cortina. Supplied
What is the mascot?
Milo is the Paralympic mascot in Milano Cortina.
As per the Olympic website, Milo - whose name is inspired by the host city Milano - is the younger brother of Olympic Winter Games mascot Tina.
Milo is missing one paw but has learned to use his tail to give him strength.
Tina and Milo, Milano Cortina 2026 mascots, dance together before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. AP
Australian Paralympic team
A team of 14 athletes and two sighted guides will be travelling to Milano Cortina to compete in the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games.
The team is the second-largest Australian group in the 50-year history of the Winter Paralympic Games, with just one less athlete to those who competed in 2018.
Along with being the second-largest Australian team, the group also include the first Indigenous Winter Paralympian, the youngest female Paralympian and also the oldest Winter Paralympian.
Amanda Reid and Lauren Parker are also set to make their debut at the Winter Games, having already competed at the summer Paralympics in 2024.
Reid won gold in the cycling just like Parker, who collected a second gold in the triathlon. The pir will compete in the snowboarding and cross-country respectively.
Ben Tudhope in action. Getty
Here are the athletes competing in each event.
Para alpine skiing:
Josh Hanlon - men's alpine combined sitting, downhill sitting, giant slalom sitting, slalom sitting and super-g sitting.
Michael Milton - men's giant slalom standing and slalom standing.
Liana France - women's giant slalom standing and slalom standing
Georgia Gunew (Guide: Ethan Jackson) - women's giant slalom VI and slalom VI.
Para biathlon:
Matt Brumby - men's individual sitting, sprint pursuit sitting and sprint sitting.
Dave Miln - men's individual sitting, sprint pursuit sitting and spring sitting.
Lauren Parker - women's individual sitting, sprint pursuit sitting and sprint sitting.
Taryn Dickens (Guide: Lynn Maree Cullen) - women's individual VI, sprint pursuit vision impaired and spring vision impaired.
Para cross country:
Matt Brumby - men's 10km interval start sitting, 20km interval start sitting and sprint sitting.
Dave Miln - men's 10km interval start sitting, 20km interval start sitting and sprint sitting
Lauren Parker - women's 10km interval start sitting, 20km interval start sitting and sprint sitting.
Taryn Dickens (Guide: Lynn Maree Cullen) - women's 10km interval start classic VI, 20km interval start free VI and sprint classic vision impaired.
Team event - 4 x 2.5km relay mixed team
Para snowboard:
Aaron McCarthy - men's banked slalom SB-LL1 and snowboard cross SB-LL1.
Sean Pollard - men's banked slalom SB-UL and snowboard cross SB-UL.
Ben Tudhope - men's banked slalom SB-LL2 and snowboard cross SB-LL2.
Amanda Reid - women's banked slalom SB-LL2 and snowboard cross SB-LL2.
How to watch Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games?
The Winter Paralympic Games will be broadcast live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Every single event will also be available to stream live and on demand via Stan Sport.
Watch the Winter Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event live & on demand, every medal in 4K, and exclusive international coverage on Stan Sport.
