Everything You Need to Know about the Paralympics

by Emily Kibler | February 27, 2026

Along with millions of people across the world, many of us at Alliance of Disability Advocates have gotten pulled into the thrill of the Olympics these past few weeks. If you are feeling sad about the excitement coming to a close, I have great news for you: the Paralympics are on their way!

While the Paralympics often don’t get as much coverage as the traditional Olympics, I implore each of you to not rule them out this year. Not only will it help you get over the post-Olympics slump, but it will also expose you to sports you likely haven’t heard about before and athletes that break multiple types of barriers.

We at Alliance of Disability Advocates have a unique perspective on the Winter Paralympic Games. Not only do we have a highly successful sled hockey team as a part of our Adaptive Sports Club program, but several of our staff also compete on this team.

Whether you are hearing mention of sled hockey for the first time or you have been following the successes of the Carolina Sled Hockey team for years, now is a great time to learn about the sport and see its talented athletes in action.

What is Sled Hockey?

Sled hockey (sometimes called Para Ice Hockey) is a sport similar to traditional stand-up hockey where players sit in special sleds with blades underneath. Rather than holding one stick and using it only to hit the puck, sled hockey players use two sticks that serve a dual purpose. The front end of the sticks are designed the same as a traditional hockey stick with a curve that allows players to control the puck. However, in addition, the butt end of the sticks have metal picks on them that allow players to propel themselves and move around the ice.

Aside from these changes made to account for players to move around the ice without standing, the game is played similarly to traditional hockey. It is fast paced, competitive, and incredibly exciting to watch.

What are the other sports?

Of course, just because we at ADA have a vested interest in sled hockey, doesn’t mean that we will be completely ignoring the other sports at the Paralympics!

There are six sports that will participate in the Winter Paralympics this year. In addition to sled hockey, there will be para alpine skiing, para cross-country skiing, para biathlon, para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.

In all of these sports, you will see a great variety of equipment that is adapted to the needs of the individual athlete. Click on the names of the sports below for more information and to watch sport explainer videos.

Para Alpine Skiing

Just like traditional alpine skiing, this version contains multiple disciplines for you to watch including downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and super combined. Athletes combine speed and agility while racing down slopes at speeds of around 60 miles/hour.

Athletes compete in three categories based on their functional ability, and a results calculation system allows athletes with different impairments to compete against each other. Blind and visually impaired skiers are guided through the course by sighted guides using signals to indicate the course to follow.

Para Cross-Country Skiing

Para cross-country skiing has been a part of the Paralympics since the first winter Games were held. There are not many differences between this sport and its traditional counterpart, except for adaptations to equipment used and changes to course demands to account for accessibility needs.

There are three classes that para athletes can compete in for this sport: vision impairment, standing, and sitting. This allows for athletes with a variety of disabilities to compete against each other.

Para Biathlon

If you haven’t watched biathlon athletes during the Olympics, this sport may come as a shock to you. Just like during the traditional biathlon, para biathlon athletes alternate between skiing through a cross-country trail and shooting at targets.

As is traditional, there are several events that are competed at different distances, but of course, the exciting part is that between the skiing stages, athletes must stop in the shooting range and hit five targets located at a distance of 10m. If they miss a target, they receive a penalty of either extra time or having to ski a penalty loop.

The same three classes of athletes from para cross-country skiing are used for this sport: vision impairment, standing, and sitting. Unlike traditional biathlon athletes, para athletes do not carry their rifles during the skiing stage. Para biathlon athletes shoot in the prone position (laying on their stomachs); however, some sit skiers may shoot in the sitting position if they are unable to shoot prone due to their impairment.

Para Snowboarding

Athletes in this sport complete in two different events similar to those in the traditional version of the sport. In banked slalom, athletes race down a winding course with sharp turns and steep slopes. In snowboard cross, athletes race down a specially built course filled with banks, rollers, and jumps.

There are also three classes of athletes in this sport; however, blind and visually impaired athletes do not compete in this sport in the Paralympics. Instead, the three categories include athletes with upper limb disabilities and athletes with two levels of severity of lower limb disabilities. Just as with other para sports, athletes use a variety of prosthetics and adaptive equipment depending on their unique needs.

Wheelchair Curling

If you only paid attention to the high-speed, daring sports during the Olympics, you missed out on the exciting, strategic sport that is curling. In traditional curling, players wear specialty shoes that allow for traction on one foot and sliding on the other. They slide heavy stones down the ice, trying to get as many into the center as possible while strategically blocking their opponents with the same goal. After these athletes release their stones, they use specialized brooms to sweep the ice, reducing friction, and guiding their stones into precise positions.

This is the main place where wheelchair curling differs. In wheelchair curling, there is no sweeping; athletes have to be precise with their throws and can do nothing to correct their lines once the stone has been released.

Since all athletes compete in wheelchairs and have lower-limb disabilities, there are not specialized classes for these athletes as there are for several of the other sports. Instead, there are two events that athletes can compete in: mixed-team and, for the first time this year, pairs. For both of these events, athletes work together to strategize and they can choose to help stabilize their teammate’s wheelchair as they throw the stone.

How to Watch

The 2026 Winter Paralympics will be taking place from Friday, March 6th to Sunday, March 15th.

The Paralympics will be covered in a similar format as the Olympics have been. You can watch on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, or stream on Peacock. You can also find coverage on the NBC Sports App or nbc.com.

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