Curling Stones Stolen at Milan Cortina Paralympic Games

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – A theft has marred the start of the wheelchair curling event at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Winter Games. Two stones, essential for competition, were stolen from the Curling Olympic Stadium, prompting an investigation by local authorities.

Details of the Incident

The incident occurred shortly before the official kickoff of the Paralympic Games on Friday, March 6th, though the wheelchair curling schedule had already begun on Wednesday, March 4th. According to the Associated Press, the stolen stones are made of granite and each weighs approximately 20 kilograms (44 pounds).

Competition Unaffected

Despite the theft, World Curling has assured that the competition will not be impacted. Replacement stones from the same set have been utilized and adjusted to meet the same specifications as the original stones. “The spare stones from the set are now being used and have been brought to the same specifications as the rest of the set so there has been no impact on the competition,” World Curling stated in an email to the AP.

Recent Curling Scandals

This incident follows a recent controversy in the Olympic curling world, where the Canadian team faced accusations of cheating during the recent Olympics.

Slovak Participation

The Milan Cortina Paralympic Games will see participation from Slovak representatives in wheelchair curling, marking their entry into the Paralympic competition in this sport.

Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games

The Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are scheduled to take place from March 6th to March 15th, 2026, spanning Lombardy, Veneto and the Autonomous Province of Trento.