Croatia will be represented in Milan and Cortina by Dino Sokolović and Lucija Smetiško in para alpine skiing, and by Bruno Bošnjak in para snowboard.
Sokolović and Bošnjak are the winners of Croatia’s only two medals at the Winter Paralympic Games. Sokolović won gold in the sitting slalom at PyeongChang in 2018, while Bošnjak won bronze in para snowboard in the banked slalom at the same Games.
"For now, we have three clear candidates. Sokolović and Bošnjak are medal winners at the Winter Paralympic Games, while Smetiško is our best para alpine skier. All three are among the world’s elite in their respective categories and we are hoping for strong results," said Ratko Kovačić, President of the Croatian Paralympic Committee (HPO).
He added that there is a possibility of one or two additional Croatian para-athletes competing on the basis of invitations, but this will only be known at the end of February.
This will be the third Paralympic Games held in Italy, following Rome, which hosted the first Summer Paralympic Games in 1960, and Turin, which hosted the Winter Paralympics in 2006.
They will be the first Paralympic Games since Tignes–Albertville 1992 to officially have multiple host cities, and also the first Winter Paralympic Games since Vancouver 2010 at which the opening and closing ceremonies will be held in different locations.
The opening ceremony will take place in Verona, while the closing ceremony will be held in Cortina.
As is well known, the Winter Paralympic Games are held at the same sports venues as the Winter Olympic Games, which take place from 6 to 22 February in Milan and Cortina.
All venues have been adapted for persons with disabilities.
The Games will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympic Games, which were first held in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.