We’re just one week away from the Paralympics, and the excitement is building! This year, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place between 28 August and 8 September and will feature 4,400 athletes from around the world. There will be 549 medal events across 22 sports.
2024 Paralympics Precedents
The Paralympic Games are a monumental event that showcases the incredible talents of athletes with disabilities. This movement has been around for over a century, even if it wasn’t always official.
The first deaf sports club was established in Berlin back in 1888, but it wasn’t until after World War II that the Paralympics, as we know them, began to take shape. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, a pioneer in the field, opened a spinal injuries center in the UK in 1944, which eventually evolved into competitive sports for war veterans.
Dr. Ludwig guttmann
The first official sports competition for British World War II veterans took place in 1948, and the Games have been growing ever since. By the time the 1960 Paralympics were held in Rome, 400 athletes from 23 countries were competing, thanks to Dr. Antonio Maglio.
Fast forward to today, the Paralympics are one of the largest international sporting events, held in parallel with the Olympics, sharing venues and facilities.
So, what sports will you be able to watch at the Paris 2024 Paralympics?
All 22 Paris 2024 Paralympics Sports
1. Para Archery
Archery at the Paralympics is divided into three categories: wheelchair and cerebral palsy athletes with limb limitations, wheelchair users with full arm function, and standing athletes, including amputees and those with CP. Expect to see some awe-inspiring precision and focus!
2. Para Athletics
Athletics is arguably the highlight of the Games, with a vast array of events. To give you a sense of scale, there were 29 finals for the 100-meter dash at Tokyo 2020, compared to just two at the Olympics.
Athletes are classified based on their level of disability, making this a complex and thrilling sport to watch.
3. Para Badminton
A recent addition to the Paralympic program, badminton is divided into categories for standing and wheelchair athletes. In the wheelchair competition, the court is reduced to half its usual size for individual matches.
4. Boccia
Unique to the Paralympics, Boccia is similar to bocce and is played by athletes with severe physical or intellectual disabilities. The aim is to get colored balls as close as possible to a white target ball, using hands, feet, or even a ramp for assistance.
5. Para Cycling
Paralympic cycling features both track and road events, with athletes using single or tandem bikes, the latter being for visually impaired athletes who ride with a sighted guide. Expect thrilling races with a wide range of competitors.
6. Para Equestrian
Just like in the Olympics, Paralympic equestrian events include dressage and jumping, with athletes categorized based on their disabilities. In the highest category, you might even see blind riders competing with the help of a guide.
7. Blind Football
Imagine playing football without being able to see! In this sport, the ball has a bell inside, and sighted goalkeepers stay within their small area while guiding their visually impaired teammates. It’s a game of skill, strategy, and trust.
8. Goalball
Another Paralympics-exclusive sport, goalball is played by blind or visually impaired athletes. It’s a fast-paced game where teams of three try to score by throwing a ball with a bell into the opponent’s goal.
9. Para Judo
Paralympic judo is identical to its Olympic counterpart but features blind or visually impaired athletes. Competitors rely heavily on their senses to detect their opponent’s movements and secure a win.
10. Para Canoe
Paralympic canoeing is divided into three categories based on the parts of the body the athlete uses: arms only, trunk and arms, or legs, trunk, and arms. Races are 200 meters long, marked by buoys, and are a true test of strength and coordination.
11. Para Triathlon
The triathlon includes three categories: wheelchair, standing (including prosthetics), and visual limitations. Athletes compete in 750m swimming, 20km cycling, and 5km running events, with modifications like handcycles for wheelchair athletes and tandem bikes for the visually impaired.
12. Para Powerlifting
In powerlifting, athletes compete in 20 categories (10 for men and 10 for women) divided by weight class, but not by type of disability. Any athlete who can lift weight with their arms while lying on a bench can participate, making it one of the most inclusive sports.
13. Para Rowing
Similar to canoeing, Paralympic rowing features 2,000-meter races in both individual and team events. Boats are equipped with fixed seats for rowers with leg limitations, ensuring that everyone can compete fairly.
14. Shooting Para Sport
Shooting at the Paralympics involves rifle and pistol events at distances of 10, 25, and 50 meters. Athletes compete in three positions: kneeling, standing (or seated if they can’t stand), and prone, using a table to support their elbow.
15. Sitting Volleyball
Sitting volleyball follows the same rules as Olympic volleyball but with one key difference: players must have at least one buttock touching the ground when they make contact with the ball. It’s fast, exciting, and highly competitive.
16. Para Swimming
Swimming is another marquee event at the Paralympics, featuring all the same styles and distances as the Olympics. Athletes with any type of limitation can participate, though prostheses are not allowed, and blind swimmers have assistants to warn them when to turn.
17. Para Table Tennis
Paralympic table tennis follows the same rules as the Olympic version, but with 11 categories depending on the athlete’s limitations. The sport is highly competitive, with wheelchair and standing athletes both competing.
18. Para Taekwondo
Taekwondo is divided into two categories: athletes with arm amputations or loss of function below the elbow, and those with an arm amputation or toe loss that prevents proper heel lift. Unlike the Olympics, kicks to the head aren’t scored.
19. Wheelchair Basketball
One of the most popular Paralympic sports, wheelchair basketball follows the same rules as Olympic basketball, with one key difference: every time a player pushes their wheelchair twice, they must dribble the ball. Players are scored from 1 to 4.5 based on their limitations, with a maximum of 14 points allowed on the court at any time.
20. Wheelchair Fencing
In wheelchair fencing, the athletes’ chairs remain static while they compete. Athletes use one arm to attack and the other to hold onto the chair, and they are positioned based on the shortest arm reach among the competitors.
21. Wheelchair Rugby
This sport is a must-see! Played 4 vs. 4 on a basketball court with a volleyball, the goal is to score tries. The chairs clash, but there’s no body contact. Athletes have limitations in their arms and/or legs, and the combined team score can’t exceed 8 points.
22. Wheelchair Tennis
In wheelchair tennis, the ball is allowed to bounce twice, but only the first bounce has to be within the court. There are singles, doubles, and quads (mixed) events for athletes with impairments in more than three limbs.
Paralympic Games: Inspiring, Fierce and Visionary
Beyond the thrill of competition, the Paralympics have also driven host cities to improve accessibility for residents and visitors with disabilities. In the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympics, China invested over $150 million in accessible infrastructure, modifying thousands of facilities and popular tourist destinations.
London followed suit by adding elevators and step-free access to its underground system, while Paris has invested over €1.5 billion in improving accessibility, education, and employment for people with disabilities.
While there’s still much work to be done in achieving true equity and accessibility, the Paralympics have sparked crucial conversations and showcased the incredible athleticism of a historically marginalized group. These Games are not just about competition; they’re about celebrating the strength, determination, and resilience of athletes who inspire the world with their achievements. So, get ready to cheer on these amazing athletes as they compete in Paris 2024!
This article based on a thread made by @periodistan on X.
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