With the conclusion of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris on August 11, attention quickly turned to the Paralympics in 2024. They seem ready to keep the glow of the City of Light alive. This 16th edition of the Paralympic Games is set to be an absolute barnburner, with more than 4,400 competitors from over 180 countries (along with neutral Paralympic competitors and the refugee Paralympic team) to give their best. are ready for and what do you know? This time 22 sports will be included. However, what makes these games unique?
What does Paralympics Mean?
The Paralympics features amazing athletes with disabilities who compete on a global platform similar to the Olympics. These games, which are divided into winter and summer games that alternate every two years, demonstrate a certain kind of power. Even with challenges such as blindness, amputation, or missing arms or limbs, these athletes display a level of drive that makes them as strong and impressive as an Olympian competitor.
Last, but not least, famous venues for this event, such as the Stade de France, Château de Versailles gardens, and Roland Garros, are gearing up for round two. The world’s top Paralympians have only just begun to step into their ideal environment, where they overcome obstacles to achieve their goals of gold. But what exactly sets it apart? Why is the World Cup watched in every country?
History of Paralympics
The largest international competition for athletes with disabilities and a catalyst for social change, the Paralympic Games are held immediately after each Olympic Games in the same host city.
Every two years, there are two different Paralympic Games: one in summer and one in winter.
From a small gathering of British World War II soldiers in 1948, the Paralympics have evolved into one of the world’s largest athletic events by the early 21st century. In our latest section, you can learn more about the history of the Paralympic Games. New Zealand competed in its first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960 and again in Tel Aviv in 1968.
Paralympic and Olympic
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) signed an agreement in 2001 ensuring that host cities are hired to oversee both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Paralympic Games have gained more recognition because of this arrangement.
Although the Paralympic Games no longer receive as much media attention as the Olympic Games, there has been a change in the way some countries around the world manage and fund para-athletes.
China won 207 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, compared to 124, 104, 98, and 80 for Great Britain, the United States, Australia, and Ukraine. The majority of these countries had more Paralympic than Olympic medals. It is surprising to see some nations starting to support para-athletes with comparable financial commitments and recognize these outstanding winners in the same way we do with Olympians.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, 29 Kiwi athletes competed and won 12 medals, including 6 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze. More than two million New Zealanders watched the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games live and free on TVNZ and Attitude Pictures.
List of Paralympic Sports
Currently, 22 summer and 6 winter Paralympic sports are contested during the Paralympic Games.
Following their debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021), badminton and taekwondo are the two most recent sports to be granted Paralympic status.
The 22 summer sports of the Paralympics include:
• Para archery
• Para athletics
• Para badminton
• Boccia
• Para canoe
• Para cycling
• Para equestrian
• Football 5-a-side
• Goalball
• Para judo
• Para powerlifting
• Para rowing
• Shooting Para sport
• Sitting volleyball
• Para swimming
• Para table tennis
• Para taekwondo
• Para triathlon
• Wheelchair basketball
• Wheelchair fencing
• Wheelchair rugby
• Wheelchair tennis
The six Paralympic Winter Games include:
• Para alpine skiing
• Para biathlon
• Para cross-country skiing
• Para ice hockey
• Para snowboard
• Wheelchair curling
Paralympic Classifications
According to the IPC website, “the threat of one-sided and predictable competition, in which the least-disabled athlete always wins, challenges the interests of parasports.” To avoid this, para-athletes compete in what are called “sport classes”, which are grouped according to their disability.
The IPC classification system is very complex and must consider the limitations of a wide variety of para-athletes. It is important to create a classification system that is appropriate for the sport because the way a disability affects an athlete’s performance in a sport may differ from another para-athlete.
Paralympic Paris Games 2024 Schedule and Details
The highly anticipated Paralympic Games 2024 will begin 28 August in Paris, France and continue until September 8. At the 17th Summer Paralympic Games, thousands of competitors will fight for medals in various events. 4,400 competitors from around the world will compete in the event with 549 medals across 22 sports. Some of Paris’ most famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Château de Versailles, and the Grand Palais, will host the Paralympic Games in 2024.
The Paralympic Games’ Future
The ability to jointly promote the two events has allowed the Paralympic Games to receive greater media coverage since the decision to hold both the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the same venue.
A turning point for the Paralympic movement came with the 1988 Korea Paralympics held in Seoul. The 1988 Summer Olympics were followed by the 1988 Paralympic Summer Games in Seoul, held in the same host city and with the same infrastructure.
It established a standard that was followed in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Eventually, an agreement between the IOC and the IPC formalized it. The agreement between the two committees was again extended to 2032 on 10 March 2018.
The future of the Paralympics is bright as the Paralympics Paris has just begun.
Ending Thoughts on Paralympic Paris 2024
Thanks to the numerous celebration venues in Paris, the Île-de-France region, and around France, as well as the many free events available to everyone, visitors are encouraged to celebrate during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Join us to commemorate this historic occasion. There are more than two hundred free celebration sites spread across France. Enjoy every minute of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with or without event tickets!
Ada Spark is a tech explorer and creative content creator with 6+ years of experience. Appreciate teamwork and creative strategies to promote content. Always looking to work according to the latest trends and create content that makes a difference. Also familiar with infographics and other forms of content.
