Key facts you need to know about the Paralympic Winter Games

II. The 2022 Winter Paralympics

The 2022 Winter Paralympics will feature a maximum 736 Paralympians across 78 medal events. Paralympians will compete across six different Paralympic sports at the 2022 Winter Paralympics -- Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Hockey, Snowboarding and Wheelchair Curling.

1. Para Alpine Skiing

Five events are on the Alpine Skiing program (Downhill, Super-G, Super Combined, Giant Slalom, Slalom) across three competition categories (standing, sitting and vision-impaired). Athletes combine speed and agility while racing down slopes at speeds of around 100 kilometers per hour.

2. Para Biathlon

Divided into sitting, standing and visually impaired categories, biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Biathlon was introduced in Innsbruck in 1988 for athletes with a physical impairment, and in 1992 athletes with vision impairment also became eligible to compete. At the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games, Biathlon was introduced as a medal event for men and women.

3. Para Cross-Country Skiing

Para cross-country skiing first appeared at the 1976 Paralympic Winter Games in ?rnsk?ldsvik, Sweden. The competition is open to athletes with physical or vision impairment.

4. Para Ice Hockey

Since its debut at the Lillehammer 1994 Winter Games, the Paralympic version of ice hockey has quickly become one of the largest attractions for spectators. It is fast-paced, highly physical and played by male and female athletes with physical impairments in the lower part of the body.

5. Para Snowboard

Para snowboard is practiced worldwide and features three disciplines: snowboard-cross, banked slalom and giant slalom. Athletes combine speed and agility while racing down courses as fast as possible. The sport made its debut at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games with two medal events in women's and men's snowboard-cross.

6. Wheelchair Curling

Wheelchair curling made its Paralympic debut in Torino in 2006. The sport is 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. Wheelchair curling will feature 12 mixed gender teams, with each team required to include at least one female player.