ParalympicsGB and Team GB launch Milano Cortina 2026 schools' challenge

ParalympicsGB and Team GB have launched a challenge designed to inspire children aged 5-11 and their families to get active in the lead up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, following on from Paris 2024.

Get Set for Milan, funded by Sport England, through the National Lottery invites young people across the UK to embark on a virtual journey between all the major sporting venues of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, following our ParalympicsGB and Team GB athletes as they prepare to make the trip to compete in real life next February and March

The launch marks the start of a 13-week countdown to the start of the Olympic Games, encouraging young people to get active, build healthy habits, and celebrate teamwork as they earn badges and log activity on a virtual map. Children and families can track their progress collectively online, by adding up minutes of movement, which will be converted into kilometres, seeing how far they’ve travelled along the route from Milano to Cortina.

Building on the success of the Path to Paris initiative ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which engaged more than 1.7 million people to get active across the UK, Get Set for Milan forms part of Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s long-running Get Set education programme.

Originally developed as the official education platform for London 2012, Get Set now provides free resources and activities for schools and community groups across the UK, including Managing Change, Movement Bursts, Skills Building and more fun initiatives, formed to enable every young person to live healthier, happier and more active lives, everyday. To celebrate the launch, a Milan-themed event was held on Thursday 6 November at the Malcolm Arnold Academy in Northampton, in partnership with the David Ross Education Trust

_To celebrate the launch, a Milan-themed event was held on the 6th November at Malcolm Arnold Academy in Northampton, in partnership with the David Ross Education Trust.This event gave more than 300 school children from local primary schools the chance to meet and be inspired by ParalympicsGB’s most decorated Winter athlete alpine skier Menna Fitzpatrick_ and Team GB skeleton Winter Olympian and Turin 2006 Olympic medallist _Shelley Rudman. Pupils enjoyed a range of fun activity-based challenges inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, including a Curling club pop-up experience, and an Olympic and Paralympic values bracelet-making station._

Anna Scott-Marshall, Director of Communications & Social Impact, ParalympicsGB said: “We know that the colder months make taking part in sport and physical activity all the more difficult and yet it is so important that young people, particularly young disabled people, have the opportunity to take part in physical activity at school and at home. Get Set to Milan provides fun challenges and resources for teachers to deliver exciting, inclusive and accessible activities to encourage more young people to get active and stay active. As ParalympicsGB athletes are set to compete on the world stage in Milano Cortina we encourage young people to cheer them on and take inspiration from their achievements.”

Jen Rouse, Managing Director, Team GB Foundation: ‘’Our unique mission at Team GB Foundation is to use the power of the Olympic Games to bring young people together, inspire behaviour change and celebrate diversity. Our Get Set for Milan programme captures the magic of the Winter Games and brings it into schools, communities and homes encouraging children across the UK to take part in a fun, inclusive challenges that celebrate teamwork, resilience and belonging. As Team GB prepares for Milano Cortina 2026, this initiative gives young people the chance to join that journey and to be inspired by our extraordinary Team GB Winter Olympians.”_

Simon Hayes, Chief Executive of Sport England, said: “As the countdown to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games continues, we’re proud to support the Get Set for Milan programme through National Lottery funding. Every child deserves the chance to enjoy the benefits of movement. By making physical activity both fun and a trackable challenge, Get Set for Milan will help young people develop lifelong, positive relationships with being active.”