The Paralympic flame is arriving in Padua

04.03.2026

On Thursday afternoon, March 5, the Paralympic flame will arrive at Prato della Valle in Padua before heading to Cortina the following day for the opening of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.

The city is preparing to celebrate the 28 Paralympic torchbearers who will take turns along the city route. Among them, our student of Molecular Biology and Paralympic champion, Francesca Tarantello, will carry the torch for a segment of the route.

Around 6 pm, the procession will start from Corso Milano and reach the podium with the cauldron in Prato della Valle around 7:30 pm. The event will be presented by the sports councillor Diego Bonavina, Marcello Marchioro, councillor of the Province of Padua with a sports mandate, Davide Giorgi, president of CIP Veneto; Ruggero Vilnai, representative of the provincial delegates of the North Area CIP; Nicolò Toscano, CIP Veneto councillor.
Also present will be Francesco Bettella, multiple Paralympic medallist in swimming and PhD graduate of the University of Padua, who stated: "I am keen to attend the ceremony on Thursday evening, especially because I was unable to participate in the one on January 21st, as I was engaged as a volunteer in the Olympic village in Predazzo. I had the opportunity to experience this event, different from the other Paralympics I have attended, because I am convinced that events like the Paralympics, especially when held at home, are a powerful source of inspiration for other young people who may be experiencing situations similar to ours."

The Rector of the University of Padua, Daniela Mapelli, the delegate for Inclusion and Disability Barbara Arfè, and the Pro-rector for Welfare and Sport Antonio Paoli have also been invited to participate in the ceremony.