Records are already falling at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games. From the very first day of the para ice hockey tournamentThe match between the United States and Italy was defeated A record attendance: 8.992 spectators They witnessed the USA's 14-1 victory at the Santagiulia ice rink. This was about 500 more spectators than at the Paralympic final in Salt Lake City in 2002 (8.462 spectators). This record also surpasses that of the 2019 Para Ice Hockey World Championships in the Czech Republic, where the final attracted 8.600 fans.
We've set a new attendance record for Para Ice Hockey at the Paralympic Games ❤️
— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) March 7, 2026
Thank you, Italy! https://t.co/x6IMbLQxWn
« This record attendance is a great source of pride for Milan-Cortina 2026 and for the entire Paralympic movement.said Andrea Varnier, CEO of the organizing committee. The energy and commitment we feel in all our venues demonstrates how much Paralympic sports can be powerful and inspiring.Seeing nearly nine thousand people in the stands for a para ice hockey match is a tangible sign of the Games' lasting legacywhile celebrating talent, determination and team spirit. "Everything suggests that this record could be broken again during the medal matches, when the stakes will be even higher."
