- On February 2 (Monday), Minister CHAE Hwi-young encouraged athletes at the Winter Paralympic Official Launch Ceremony

- Full mobilization of sports science capabilities and tailored support for athlete safety and performance

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) and the Korean Paralympic Committee (President JUNG Jin-owan, KPC) held the “Team Korea Official Launch Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games” on February 2 (Monday) at Olympia Hall, Seoul Olympic Parktel. Minister CHAE attended the ceremony to encourage the athletes who had devoted themselves to training for the Paralympic stage.

The ceremony brought together around 150 participants, including KPC President JUNG, Delegation Head YANG Oh-yeol, executives and staff from the KPC and regional sports councils, and officials from respective sports federations. The event featured a video screening of the team’s training journey, an introduction of the national team, opening remarks, a rallying address, the presentation of the team flag, and a congratulatory performance. In particular, Minister CHAE delivered a message of encouragement to the athletes and wished them a safe return.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will be held from March 6 (Friday) to 15 (Sunday) across venues in Italy. The Korean national team will compete in five sports: alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and wheelchair curling.

Top-Level Performance Backed by Sports Science and Medicine:

Safety Prioritized through a 24-hour Emergency Medical System and Crisis Response Protocols

To prepare for the Games, the MCST and the KPC will deploy cutting-edge scientific equipment on-site, including hyperbaric oxygen recovery devices, low-frequency muscle stimulators, and compression cold therapy units. In addition to technological support, specialized personnel such as sports science researchers and equipment managers will be stationed on-site to help athletes adapt quickly to environmental changes.

Preparations for athlete safety and health management have been thorough. Medical offices will be operated within the athlete villages in Cortina and Predazzo, with medical staff maintaining a 24-hour emergency response system. Medical crisis response protocols addressing conditions common in winter sports, such as frostbite and cardiovascular issues, will be distributed to the entire delegation, and a response system for doping and classification disputes will also be in place.

Support for “Korea House” Inspired by Hanok and Heartfelt Korean Side Dish Packages

On-site in Italy, a “Korea House” inspired by the beauty of hanok (traditional Korean house) will operate as a promotional venue for “K-Sports” and Korean culture and as a venue for international sports exchanges for persons with disabilities. In particular, a meal support center within Korea House will provide freshly prepared Korean boxed meals daily and deliver them to the athlete village and competition venues, along with additional Korean side dishes including soybean paste soup, stir-fried kimchi, and perilla leaves.

Minister CHAE stated, “Every trail you carve on the ice and snow is in itself a chapter in the history of Korean para sports and a message of hope to the people of Korea,” adding, “The entire nation will be cheering for you to perform to the fullest of your abilities and to return home safely without injury.”