Disability Access & The Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina 2026
Disability Access & The Winter Paralympics in Milano Cortina, as seen from a disabled photographers prospective.
I was made disabled 4 year ago and got my life together around 10 months later when I set up The Disability Sports Network, my aim is simple to showcase disabled sports to every one not just the disabled who don’t do a sport, but to the rest of the community that we don’t just sit at home and watch TV because we are disabled.
My condition is FND Functional Neurological Disorder with Fibromyalgia which limits my walking, I walk with a stick, pain in the upper thighs/back and like intense pins and needles in my feet almost 24 hrs per day. So a short walk can make me cry in pain and some days I cannot go out, due to my feet really hurting. If I have to go out I need to take extra pain relief with me. I have also written a book (An Unexpected Disability) from when I collapsed (Easter Sunday April 2022) to going to my first Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, it charts what I went through with my condition. I also have a blog called a photographer with FND with around 80 different entries, charting different problems and how I over came them or not for my first 2 years of living with FND.
Coming to terms with this disability, has been a long process both physically and mentally. I do not mind being disabled (sounds odd I know), as it has opened many doors for me and my photography, its stretched my thinking on how I take photographs, taking a little more risk personally and financially. The result is when I show the printed photographs or on the internet I get lovely comments about how I captured something they did not know existed and that is the “Human” spirit/element of a person with a disability I do not see the disability straight away it’s what the face tells the reader. Every one of the people I photograph has a story to tell, but in a blink of an eye I have frozen that moment in time for posterity, seeing a person at their best as I know what a bad day looks like, been there quite a few times. I need to show the resilience of a disabled person as a common cold catches most people out, but to a disabled person that is a minor inconvenience (some times depending on the condition), they power through the small things in life and when I see the smile, concentration of a person I photograph all those thoughts disappear in an instance I captured something no one else has captured and is shouting from the roof tops. I can do this despite “x” Disability.
I have now been to a number of large sporting events e.g. Paralympics in Paris, International blind games, Invictus games and numerous grassroots and mid level events in the UK. I now have a good understanding of a lot of new sports most of which I never knew existed.
Fast forward to the Winter Paralympics in Cortina, Italy. On paper its a lovely mountain town serving numerous slopes and skiing activities for all to enjoy. So this seems ideal location to host the Winter Paralympics, the scenery on the way from Venice airport was beautiful.
So my first day, I need some orientation so head to the media centre in town, got a locker and importantly my arm sleeve otherwise I cannot go and take photographs.
1st Stop was the Curling as it has started 3 days early, so ideal time to go in and get a feel for the arena. I got in OK, however the entrance I went in I had to walk down 8 or so stairs and as it was early in the day I can do this (End of day not a chance). There was no hand rail for these steps and no on offered me any help despite having my sunflower lanyard on and walk with a stick. I did ask how do I get there step free, they said I had to walk all the way around on the outside of the building and get cleaned up (boots wise I presume), despite there being a tunnel to the other side I was not allowed to go there as my feet were dirty. No indication anywhere that this was a step free access to the curling area, no signs or real help.
2nd Stop on Opening ceremony day, I had to travel to Verona which is approx 5 plus hrs travel via a coach, train, and bus with a police escort for anyone going to the opening ceremony. I can say with no doubt my disability needs were met 100% that evening, as I was asked if I needed to sit in a wheelchair space or just a chair. I chose a chair. However the way I was taken from check point to check point, was superb. Talking to a photo manager I knew (from the Paris Paralympics) who helped me basically and said I had the best seat in the house, just 2 meters away from the stage, 4 meter away from the speakers for IPC when they addressed the crowd during the ceremony.
So lets the games begin 2nd day of the Paralympics as I got back to the hotel at 3.30am and decided to rest on the next day due to all the travel to Verona and back.
Cortina Snowboard area
1st idea was to photograph the snowboarding area at Cortina Snowboarding arena. Easy I got the bus with 6 other photographers and then we were just dumped at the bottom of this very steep hill (that buses and cars could go up), so there was no assistance at the bottom and the little conveyor for skis etc was not working to the right of us. I know this was a struggle especially with around a camera bag weighing 11kg and my walking ability up hills is very hard indeed. I eventually got to the security check point, out of breath, in pain and exhausted and of course despite my photo credentials they wanted to inspect my bag which was on my back, I slowly took it off, they seemed very impatient to look into it, and the guy to my left started to get it from the table and try to open it. I have multiple compartments in that bag, and of you open one the wrong way there goes a lens or camera rolling down the hill. I had to stop him, while still catching my breath. Then almost instantly they wanted to pat me down and run a wand over my body. I said STOP as if I am touched you can make me collapse due to my FND/Fibromyalgia (their wand did touch my shoulder blade and that is what set it the FND off, the swear they did not touch me, but I felt it and it went in spasms) . I tried to comply touched me as I was in an agitated state that they were not listening and allowing me to explain my condition and what not to do etc. So that touch set my leg into a spasm and I could not move my left legs, screaming in pain they got me a chair to sit down. Whilst still trying to inspect my valuable camera bag. I was getting extremely frustrated with them, and I reached into my wallet to show them my Disability ID card. They did not seem to care, just wanting to get me out of this check point ASAP, they did not give me personally any time to recover and all they wanted to do was get me out of there asap. They did not care that me as a disabled person could take photographs etc. (Note I do have their details). I sat there for 10-15 minutes composing myself, luckily for me my spasms left after 15 minutes a new record for me. They were very unhelpful.
However I still had a big hill going up to the ski area, no assistance was there or even one person from that tent saying I will take your camera bag up to help you. By the time I got up to one of the main areas my fellow photographers (I was with on the bus) were already complaining there was nowhere to store our kit or get a coffee, water etc as available in other media centre. So what I now? We had to hike this up to our photo positions. I went and got some water and had to pay out of pocket, but what I needed was a bottle of water with a cap on , but IOC rules say it has to be opened and thrown away at point of purchase in case we used it as a missile. I blew up and told him how can I go up a snow hill (no 3 that day so far) with my camera bag, walking stick and a open bottle of water?? So I had to down the drink there and then, so I was left without access to water while on the snow hill.
I eventually found out where I could photograph from and at almost every turn I had access denied as someone suggested as I was disabled a snowmobile could take me 200 meter up to the photo area, that was denied (no reason given). So I had at each point how to get up to the next one, they to radio someone to get permission, I had my accreditation and sleeve on! And there were photographers there already. I got there and realised that the viewing area was on a hill , no provisions for a flat surface to work from, just the gradient of the hill, then I found a place next to another photographer and asked him, is this good, he said NO. Why? well we could not see when the skiers were coming over the stop of this brow to the finish line, then there were safety barriers for the skiers and they were so large they dominated our photographs typically along the bottom of the frame in a wedge shape all blue. I had to put my camera bag, luckily it is fully waterproof, on the snow at the angle of the hill. Had I slipped and touched the bag would have gone down the hill away from me. If I had slipped without touching the bag, yes I would have gone down the hill to a light stand (big and solid structure) and would have hurt or broken something.
After 15 minutes I was getting frustrated with this position and saw another one on the other side of the slope, so headed down there and again on each part that led to a ski slope for the ice conditioners and officials on skis we had to get permission to go on the very edge of a very large area and if a skier could not see me then they need new ski lessons and a eye sight test.
I felt very unsafe on the left hand side and complained to the local photo manager, who said to me do you have cramp-ons for your feet, I said NO I did not know I needed them (he shrugged his shoulders) and no other photographers had them also. He guided me to the left hand side where I was. Going down a snow hill with my camera bag, walking stick trying not to slide, hoping my legs would not give out after the spasms I had around 45 mins earlier, I was eventually helped down a 2 foot drop to the lower level which was sort of level. Very unaccessible.
I worked out how to get to the other photo area, and again it was a slope, same incline as before, but a lot more slippery and narrow, probably just over 4 feet 1.3m wide. We had to go almost side stepping past the first aid tent, which was a feat in its self and I saw where I could photograph from. This was again not an ideal position by any means, as I am trying to get a skier level in my view finder while my feet were not fixed to sold ground eg no snow. Where you could stand was all snow on an approx 40 deg angle. There were video people there with big cameras and tripods that where useful, but as a stills photographer I am not allowed to use a tripod, but when a skier is passing you at 60kph or faster then a tripod is relatively useless.
Then due to the snow needed dressing and a problem with the whole slope competitors were coming down sporadically and we did not even hear when they left the top as it around 1minute 20 ish seconds from start to finish, if we know at around the 55 second time we can predict when they come round corners and get a chance at a shot.
When this had past 30 minutes with only 1 skier coming down, I said lets get away from here nothing much to photograph. Then the very unsteady downhill decent started, I was hoping I could not slip and fall, as I had my equipment, but I could see myself hitting the first aid tent and the big ish generator/comms stricture and that was heavy steel device and would have hurt me a lot. I was very nervous about this down hill decent. Again there was no one willing to help a disabled photographer, with the trip down they were all chatting with no cares in the world.
I found my way back to what I thought was the pick up point and told NO thats for the Skiers and helpers as its going back to the Paralympic village, I was confused and asked well where do I get the bus back to town?, he said well down near the check point or on the bottom road. I said to him I cannot go down this steep gravel hill to those points so how do I get to Cortina? I started to make a fuss, as I said I need a solution, after a while someone made phone calls (after I made a fuss about being disabled) and around 30 minutes later with no offer of a seat I could sit on. They had arranged a “accessible” vehicle to take me anywhere I wanted in town. My legs by this point were in a lot of pain , plus getting into the vehicle I could not lift my leg up to the first step of an accessible vehicle, tried 3 times, then put everything down and helped my leg up manually to the step, but still struggled to get in, I did not just hop into this car. I eventually got back to the Media room in town, I had my extra pain killers and rested for 2 hrs plus. That was the first ordeal and I said to myself I cannot work like this, and according to the “Plan” of the photo points there were 3 wheelchair accessible ones available. No there were NONE.
I had heated discussions with the photo manager (in person and via whats app) who also managed the Tofane and the media centre for the snowboarding areas it at another completely different location, higher up the mountain and no you would not just cut across the mountain its another location.
Tofane skiing area
This time when I eventually found the media centre checked in and the manager came to me to discuss options as there were more. Again more up hills, a gentle one to the top of the viewing area for the spectators and we were up above the broadcast areas basically on the roof. Why it was 100% accessible and quiet, the only angle we could get was a general overview of the downhill course and to where they stopped. So even with a long lens the shots are informative, but not eye catching as is my usual style.
I was shown from the top of that structure where the medals were given out and where the photo access areas was. I was not getting the shots I wanted, so headed down to the other area. Now once you are off the “public area” you were on snow again and it was very, in fact too close to a left hand drop. So walking around there was hard, as remember I walk with a stick, eventually got to the wooden area we could stand on. Now the stairs up to this were only 5 ish, but to get onto the top layer which allowed free viewing above the crash barriers, I had to clamber up 2 feet for each viewing platform there were two levels, plus each time. My legs were cannot step up that height, it was a nightmare and had to shuffle myself and kit up 2 large steps up, its not elegant but I managed it. Luckily for me there were only a few photographers in that area. So set up and started taking some shots I had gone for.
Again anything near the snow has no wheelchair accessible points, well there were potentially some with the general public, and from their view point with all the cameras at the end obstructing their view most of the time, I would ask for my money back.
I left Tofane bewildered on how a big event like this went so wrong for myself and I have now heard back from at lot of the Paralympians they could not watch their own sports, OH wait, no real provisions were made for them, don’t they count any more? Why are we here in the first place
I found out this time where the bus went from back to town was and that was still down a slippery gravel path to a road to take us back to town. No help was made and scrambling under a gravel hill even for an able bodied person would be hard, now try and walk down the hill as a disabled person, then you have trouble.
Doing research into bus times to the other venues, eg Ice Hockey and Cross country etc, they were 4 plus hours to get there and the cross country I could not get there, well for the last race yes as the buses did not leave or allow you to leave at a time that got you there at the start at around 9am. The paperwork I received from the Paralympic people did not really show the distances as it was very hard to find on any maps, then the buses real times only came out a few weeks before the Olympics happened and after I had booked my hotel and that was fixed and could not be changed and I wanted to try different sports. I had already booked my accommodation 50 minutes out of Cortina, when I should have had say 3 days at Milan shooting hockey, 3 days for the cross country. The rest at Cortina. The mountains have their own timetable as it was only 30 or less KM from my hotel into Cortana, but took an average of an hour due the mountain roads, however that in a straight is line well 20 mins. It was only when I got the time tables live when I was in Cortina as then it made sense of where all the places were relative to each other.
So onwards with the accessibility
The main media centre in Cortina, was on a slope down a small hill and then up another one to the deck where you could enter the centre. Step 1 all doors had bumps of up to 10mm and all doors were manually operated, OK its a temp structure, but I know of at least 2 wheelchair users of this tented area. The toilets where on the other side of the path and yes again there was a disabled toilet with a smaller bump to get in. When inside the media tent, down the side of the lockers there was a cable run that you had to step over, could be classed as a trip hazard to get to the lockers, wheelchair users beware.
When people walked heavily up and down the passage way between the desks the tables, chairs would jump up and down and disrupt your workflow. It was enough of a distraction to spills your cup of coffee and the space between the desks (not the walkway) was too small. It needed 1 set of tables to be removed. I got brushed upon and my walking stick within the area of my seat, got kicked a couple of times. People were not paying attention to you, but politeness costs nothing. So this was not a brilliant work area.
The closing ceremony
Again, I was assigned an assisted seating area and had to be escorted to my seat, my guide did not know where the wheelchair or flat entrance was so had to go down a set of stairs with his help and no hand rail. There were many questions asked on how to get to this place, as I had a special VIP gold wrist band, there was no hand offs to people who knew what they were doing or where I was supposed to go. A lot of blank faces. Eventually we found the space I was designated, a great position and lets see what I get this time. Compared to the Opening ceremony this was a nightmare getting in and to my designated seat.
We had to be there at least an hour before due to security concerns with the VIPS, while I was sitting there the wheelchair users were being positioned on boards covering the curling rink, which was fine, however I thought I saw one wheelchair user have problems getting over what is 4-5mm lip from the carpet area to the boarded area for the front rows. I said this is supposed to be flat for all access, not like this, so with camera in hand and a long telephoto lens I was watching a few users have trouble getting over this lip and I have photographs of the front wheelchair lifted up as they transitioned to the new surface.
It does not end there, there was some large cables that were feeding the lights in front of the wheelchair users, and this has a protective cover with slopes on each side so you don’t trip over cables. However every person in a wheelchair had to navigate this big barrier to my left. Again I have photographs of it and people standing on it.
Now at the top left side of this area I could not see any obstructions from the edge of the area to the main dance and celebration area. Later when the show started the performers came out of that area without having to go over any lip or cable protection area. This to me was very strange as all the wheelchair users had to navigate around 1-2 lips each and the performers none. This to me is poor planning, as the difference was that tunnel I mentioned the first time I went to curling is where they told us we could not stand as the performers and staff would be using it all night. But wait a second why not let all the wheelchair users who were designated spots on this area go through the tunnel and NOT have to go over cable or lip? So who ever designed this, don’t employ them as this is basic health and safety and/or common sense. Yes the big cable had to go somewhere, then why not away from the wheelchair users?.
The area I was in was for VIPS only, then some person added 8 new chairs onto the end of the VIP area, so that did not help me, in fact it hindered me a bit. Then when the performance started there was a fire Marshall and myself in this corner with one space left open for another gold pass photographer absolutely fine for me.
Now this is where it get dangerous. The area behind me was supposed to be kept clear of non VIPS without tickets for the stands as there were a few seats left, no there were around 10 people behind me and milling around the rear area, they seems to have itchy feet as they kept walking on this flimsy board that I was sitting on (this is important a bit later). I asked them to stop moving about as it was bouncing me and my camera up and down. The lighting was not brilliant so was on a high ISO and trying not to get camera shake in every photo. I asked politely once, then 10 mins later a ticket inspector checked their validation and sent them on their way. However 10 mins later they were back and walking any place around this area, bouncing up and down. I turned to them and said you are not supposed to be here, you have been removed once and please stop moving around or find a new place to watch the show.
I went to the briefing about the show and we were not told anything about its contents, as its a “surprise” for all of us. He said I have no information about the show, only timing and headlines when things may or may not happen.
The second dance routine, all of a sudden I saw some wavy lines in my viewfinder and I said what is that, turned it on and off and the same. Checked my 2nd camera exactly the same. A little confused then I looked up, GREEN LASERS were pointing directly across the side of the hall where I was and the VIP, Gold ticket holders plus the whole sand behind the VIP area directed at our eyes and more importantly my camera. Why am I worried?, well it has been proved beyond a doubt that lasers in lights that can make shapes and be very effective from a distance can kill our cameras, yes make our sensors of any camera, phone basically anything with a ccd sensor including security cameras, I turned off my cameras immediately and stopped shooting. They should have told us this was going to happen, as then I would have given my seat up for someone else and watched on the TV in the media room or comfy at my hotel that evening. Please note this has been reported to the IPC.
I pity for the rows of photographers up in the stands directly opposite these lasers, I wonder how many cameras were damaged, as lasers can actually kill the pixels making them white, depending on how much laser is shone it could be 1 or the whole ccd array.
I watch the show in disbelieve they would do this without notice?. Then on another dance or something they changed the lasers from green to red, at that point I had decided not to do any more photography as I have no idea when the lasers would be turned on again and ruin my camera. The people behind me were stressing me out to to walking behind me and the boards bouncing up and down and my FND kicked in big time and froze my left leg and had a pain scale of 8/10. I was very stressed about everything, the potential loss of my camera CCD, the people making my work very difficult due to them walking around etc.
I shouted for a medic behind me, as my leg spasmed solid and had to get out of there, I did that 4 times then another person caught their attention. I said I need to get out of here as I am in pain and my leg is frozen/spasms yes there was a language problem, but she went away and back 3 times before she realised I needed a wheelchair to get out of the stadium (which I told her in the first place and she said can you walk, I said no 3 separate times). They got me a wheelchair and eventually I transferred from my chair, but none of them had even heard of Fibromyalgia. So the journey out of the stadium to the first aid room was fraught with people not knowing the way for a wheelchair user to see a doctor. The ways out were down basic scaffolding boards and metal panels every 4-6 feet. Now in my heighten state of spasm and pain. The wheelchair looked new, it had solid/hard wheels, no soft cushion, so I was wheeled out bumping up and down every plate imaginable up and down slopes. (the lips to the cross overs were every 4-6 feet) None of these medics had any real idea on how to transport a patient out or even care for them, as every bump or lip we hit I shouted out in pain, and it was a lot. I have no idea the number of dead ends, or places a wheelchair could not get out of easily. I still wonder to this day how the wheelchair users got in to the curling centre.
Of course as Cortina is built on a slope everything was up and down these horrible boards even to the medical centre. I had a few minutes to compose myself in the medical centre and speak to the Doctor who seemed to know my condition FND and Fibromyalgia etc. The thing people ask is how long will it last, that is the $64,000 question I do not know and repeated asking me does not help my stress and anxiety at this time. (note experience tells me anything from 30 mins to 4 days)
In the time I was at the medical centre I asked a Italian Paramedic did he know what FND or Fibromyalgia was, he admitted he did not even know what Fibromyalgia was which is important for anyone treating me as if I am handled the wrong way. I can be like a 2 year old kid who does not want to go to bed, and wriggles, screams and does a tantrum in a lot of pain, so people at this level for a Paralympic games need to know how to pick me up if they have to transfer me to another bed/wheelchair if I cannot walk. Note the whole purpose of the Paralympics all the competitors are disabled in some way, so please be properly trained. There is a specific way to lift me from a wheelchair to another seat and they need to take instructions from ME and not Guess!
The result was I needed to go back to the Media centre, as my stuff is there and some emergency medication I can use to help this along (my doctor says use sparing once per month) . Then the People who were pushing me in this horrible and unsuitable chair did not know where the media centre was. I knew where it was, but they did not believe me. Again down from the medical centre towards the exit, was one of these wood boards, steel connecting parts with lots of bumping along the way. At that point I wanted it all to be over as the pain levels were rising. Now it was a down hill to the centre missing the various cars and busses as we went. The roads in Cortina are not smooth, lots of potholes and in the dark its difficult to see them, so up goes my pain again and again. Eventually we get to the media centre, but the bouncing up and down has not finished yet.
They park me next to a desk, cameras on the table and I give a key to someone to get my camera bag as it contained the medication in it. Took it, and got some water for the pain relief etc. Sitting there trying to catch my breath, they were more interested in getting the wheelchair back to the designated area rather than trying to allow me to recover a bit. Luckily the media centre had a spare wheelchair and I was transferred into it and the medical crew dissipated quite quickly once I had transferred.
Now the sweetest person was the french lady who I had many various conversations with as I walked in and out of the centre. She made sure I was OK and a few Paralympic assistances did stay with me and kept an eye on me. She said you can stay here till midnight as I am here till then.
However all the Paralympic helpers were asking again how long does this ask, too many times to remember, as their only goal was to close the media tent by 12.00 midnight (It was around 10pm then) and wondered how I would get back to my hotel. I said give me 40 minutes and lets see if this medication works, it did not, and they were all stressing out about the closing of the media centre & not my health condition.
I said I need help getting to transport to anywhere, I cannot walk. Eventually a senior person took up the case and called the “accessible transport” system and found me a mini van that was going my way. Due to the leg spasm, 2 people had to find alternative route back to their hotel, as I could not sit comfortably in 1 seat, I arrived home at 12.30 ish and the driver of the vehicle helped me up another steep slope at the hotel and up the stairs to my room. We parted, however I took more pain relief so I could face the next days travel home.
The town of Cortina, is a pretty village and only had designer shops in it down the high street on a hill and the main path is cobbles. I eventually found 2 supermarkets and a mini deli shop. There were no fast food places (not even pop ups) where I could just get a snack, no I had to get a proper meal eg Sit down and they really did not like single persons at a table for 2 and getting a gluten free meal was impossible.
For able body people this hills is no problem, however where you are dropped off on any bus to and from Cortina is down on the lower level of the town, so every time you got off or on a bus, you had to walk up and down a hill. There were lots of steps between the upper and lower levels, but remember we are here for the Paralympics where we all have disabilities of some kind. Myself walking due to Fibromyalgia/FND and the feet pins and needles with all the hills, steps I had to navigate just to get something to eat, was excruciating in fatigue and pain in my legs/waist and of course feet.
So you cannot just pop out to town to get something to eat, its a 20 minute walk with hike on horrible roads, pavements, hill and stairs to potentially get something, as the food they had in the tent, well not many people were eating it.
In Summary
For me as a disabled person I was utterly disgusted at the lack of accessibility at the venues, towns and even my hotel as they did the bait and switch, as I was supposed to be in a hotel with lift, no they switched me to a hotel where there were extra hills to breakfast or supper, then to my room I was on the 1st floor and to top it all, the house which was separate from the main hotel, had no fire detectors anywhere or control panel and this is part of an ongoing investigation as it has been reported to IPC Hotel dept and the local fire brigade to check. (Both hotels are in the same group and switched me without consent)
I came home effectively a lot more tired than I should have been due to the inaccessibility of a Paralympic event. There was poor planning at every turn and when you pointed it out nothing was done about it as it was at a higher level e.g. IPC planning and not the people who were trying to make it work and in short it did not work.
Did I get the photos I needed, No, but just a few, due to the positions were were given, which all were terrible unless you were one of the top people eg Getty, AP and others. I do not know the final count but its low, but it was well, well lower than the Paris Paralympic games as all seating was right next to the action regardless of the sport involved and 100% accessible. I know I will not be able to do a 40 page book on these winter paralympic games which is a big dissapointment for me and my readers. I may be able to do 5 pages and this will be added to a general magazine.
So for me this Paralympic Games was a waste of time and effort for what I got. However this write up documents that in my opinion the Paralympic games failed to deliver an experience not just for me (as I wanted to watch as well), the athletes who wanted to watch the sports they did, or wanted to view another sport and of course the audience who were supporting the event.
The spectators had many views of the action blocked by a band of photographers who just blocked the view. On the snowboarding centre we had to put our bags on the snow and the spectator line was behind us less than 4 feet behind, however one of the photographers showed me a pic where the crowd was pushing forward on the net fence and could easily have their picking of any camera bag as it was not secured as there was no where to secure it.
Whoever did the disability access need to be removed and replaced with someone who knows what they are doing as regards access its 2026 and not 1926. In short the IPC/Paralympic people should refund my hotel, travel, expenses and my time lost for 12 days of really nothing I could really photograph, as they just failed 100% .
Photos of the problems
Here is some proof of my findings, I wanted more photographs, but I was so dissapointed with what I saw, I did not document this fully. However from these 8 examples that should be sufficent.
