The Paralympic Winter Games have begun in Italy. This is a big sports celebration for people with disabilities. The opening ceremony took place in Milan. Many people watched. Athletes from 40 countries take part.
There are 6 different types of sports in the snow and on the ice. The competitions last for 10 days. The goal is 79 gold medals. Inclusion is an important goal of the Games. This means: All people should be able to participate everywhere.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus also participate. But they cannot start for their country. They compete as neutral athletes. This means: There are no flags from their countries. They also do not play their national anthems.
The opening ceremony caused much criticism. There were technical problems in the stadium. The sequence of the celebration did not please everyone. Some experts even called the celebration a scandal. Still, many athletes look forward to the coming days.
