Is there a Winter Paralympics? When is the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games - opening and closing ceremony dates

Snow sport and athletic fans will not have to wait too long before the next event takes place as the Winter Olympics draws to a close.

The Winter Olympics concluded on Sunday 20 February 2022 with Great Britain winning two medals.

Eve Muirhead’s women’s curler’s were able to thrash Japan on the final day of the Olympics to secure Great Britain’s first and only gold medals of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. This is Muirhead’s fourth games and in Sochi 2014, the Scottish curler was the youngest ever captain to win an Olympic Curling medal.

The second medal awarded to Great Britain in Beijing was silver and also for curling. The men’s team competed against Sweden in the final, ultimately losing out but remained exceptionally proud of their achievement.

Speaking to the PA news agency, the team’s captain Bruce Mouat’s partner said: “I’m obviously disappointed, but that was still amazing. It’s still a silver so I’m thrilled.

“Bruce has been relentless. With training, he’s been so focused the whole time and working so hard.”

With the Beijing Winter Olympics ending last night (20 February) with the closing ceremony, the Paralympians will be warming up as they look to take centre stage at the end of next week.

In what is set to be one of the biggest Paralympic events to date, 736 Paralympians will take part in 78 medal events, including Oksana Masters and six British athletes.

Here is all you need to know ahead of the Beijing Winter Paralympics

What are the dates for the Winter Paralympics?

The Games will begin on Friday 4 March 2022 and will conclude on Sunday 13 March 2022.

When are the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Winter Olympics?

The Opening ceremony will take place at the Beijing National Stadium on Friday 4 March. The Closing ceremony will also be held at the same stadium and will be on Sunday 13 March 2022.

Which sports will take place at the Beijing Winter Paralympics?

The Paralympics will compete across six different Paralympic Sports at the Games. These are Alpine skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country skiing, Sled Hockey, Snowboard and Wheelchair Curling.

Alpine skiing

There are five events on this programme - Downhill, Super-G, Super Combined, Giant Slalom, Slalom - and there are three competition categories: Standing, sitting and vision-impaired.

Biathlon

Similarly, the Biathlon will have three categories: sitting, standing a visually impaired categories in an event which includes cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

Cross-Country skiing

This event will be open to those with a physical impairment and vision impairment.

Sled Hockey

Sled Hockey is fast paced, highly physical and played by both male and female athletes with a physical impairment in the lower part of the body.

Snowboarding

Snowboarding consists of three disciplines: Snowboard-cross, banked slalom and Giant Slalom.

Wheelchair Curling

The sport will be open to male and female athletes who have a physical impairment in the lower half of their body, including spinal-cord injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and double-leg amputation.

How to follow the Winter Paralympics

The Winter Paralympics will be available to watch on Channel 4. They recently announced details to cover the Beijing 2022 Games which features a 100% disabled presenting team.

Channel 4 have also launched a film, available to watch on All4 to help promote the Games. The Film - Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics - features the Paralympic alpine skier Millie Knight and shows what she can achieve as she hurtles down a slope at nearly 70mph with just five percent vision.

Who will be competing for Great Britain?

High Nibloe will once again form part of TeamGB as he heads the mixed Curling team for the second time in an Olympics.

Alongside him will be Gregor Ewan, David Melrose, Meggan Dawson-Farrell and Gary Smith.

Ewan won a Bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Games while Nibloe finished seventh in Pyeongchang.

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