PARIS 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES:

The 2024 Paralympic Games will be hosted in Paris from August 28 to September 8, 2024, marking a historic moment as France hosts its first-ever Paralympic Summer Games. Over the course of 11 days, approximately 4,400 athletes from around the world will compete in 22 sports and vie for 549 sets of medals. This edition will also witness record participation from female athletes, with 236 medal events for women, the highest in Paralympic history.

The Games will kick off with an unprecedented Opening Ceremony outside a stadium, taking place along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and finishing at the Place de la Concorde, a significant departure from traditional ceremonies. Key venues from the Olympic Games will transition for Paralympic competitions. For example, Roland-Garros will host wheelchair tennis, while the Champ-de-Mars Arena will become the center for wheelchair rugby.

Popular sports like para athletics, blind football, and wheelchair rugby are expected to draw huge crowds. Notable athletes to watch include Markus Rehm, the German long jumper known as the “Blade Jumper,” and Diede de Groot, the dominant Dutch wheelchair tennis player. France aims to make a strong showing, particularly in blind football, where they hope to challenge Brazil’s dominance.

This edition of the Paralympics will also feature new medal events, including gender-specific events in boccia and additional opportunities for high-support athletes in sports like para badminton and para judo.

CLASSIFICATION:
Paralympic classification is a functional classification system, in which all athletes who compete in the same category are sure to have similar functional abilities in terms of movement, coordination and balance. This is why athletes with different impairments may be allocated the same sport class and compete against one another.

The classifications below are designated by a letter, typically the sport’s initial (for example, S for swimming) and a number. The lower the figure, the greater the impairment—though this is not always the case.

THE GAMES:

BLIND FOOTBALL

BOCCIA

GOALBALL

PARA ARCHERY

PARA ATHLETICS

PARA BADMINTON

PARA CANOE

PARA CYCLING ROAD

PARA CYCLING TRACK

PARA EQUESTRIAN

PARA JUDO

PARA POWERLIFTING

PARA ROWING

PARA SWIMMING

PARA TABLE TENNIS

PARA TAEKWONDO

PARA TRIATHLON

SHOOTING PARA SPORT

SITTING VOLLEYBALL

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

WHEELCHAIR FENCING

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS

Click HERE to see the Venues.

HISTORY OF PARALYMPIC:
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event for athletes with physical, intellectual, and vision impairments. They are held shortly after the Olympic Games in both Summer and Winter editions. Here is a comprehensive history:

Origins: Stoke Mandeville Games:
The roots of the Paralympic Games can be traced back to 1948 when Sir Ludwig Guttmann, a neurologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, organized a sports competition for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. This event, known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, featured archery and was intended as a rehabilitation exercise for injured veterans. The competition grew in scale and became an annual event.

The First Paralympic Games: Rome 1960
The first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960, parallel to the Olympic Games, marking the beginning of the modern Paralympics. Around 400 athletes from 23 countries participated in sports such as archery, athletics, swimming, wheelchair fencing, and wheelchair basketball. This event, primarily for athletes with spinal cord injuries, was a landmark in global sports for athletes with disabilities.

Expansion and Evolution:
The 1960s and 1970s saw the inclusion of more disabilities beyond spinal cord injuries, such as amputations, visual impairments, and cerebral palsy. The Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games introduced events for athletes with visual impairments and amputees, broadening the inclusivity of the Games. These Paralympics marked a significant expansion, with over 1,600 athletes from 40 countries participating.

In 1988, the Paralympics moved to a new level of global recognition when they were held in the same city as the Olympic Games—Seoul—with the same facilities. This established a tradition where the Paralympics were held immediately after the Olympics in the same city, fostering a stronger link between the two events.

Winter Paralympics: Introduction and Growth
The Winter Paralympic Games debuted in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. The games started modestly with two sports—alpine and Nordic skiing—but have grown to include a variety of winter sports. Today, the Winter Paralympics feature events like ice hockey (sledge hockey), wheelchair curling, and biathlon.

Governance and Recognition:
In 1989, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was founded, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, to oversee the Paralympic Games and ensure the fair treatment of athletes with disabilities. The IPC is responsible for coordinating the Summer and Winter Paralympics and developing Paralympic sport.

Recent Paralympics and Milestones:
The Paralympics have grown in size and stature, with the London 2012 Games being a major milestone. These Games featured more than 4,300 athletes from 164 countries, with widespread media coverage and sold-out events. The success of London 2012 demonstrated the commercial viability of the Paralympics and helped to increase awareness and support for para-sports globally.

Another landmark was Rio 2016, where, for the first time, the Paralympics were held in South America. The Rio Games were noted for breaking multiple records in terms of participation, viewership, and performance.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) further solidified the Paralympic movement, highlighting the resilience of athletes and the growing global recognition of Paralympic sports.

Social Impact and Legacy:
Over the decades, the Paralympic Games have helped challenge perceptions of disability and promote inclusivity in sports. The athletes are celebrated not only for their sporting prowess but also for their role in breaking down barriers and changing societal attitudes towards people with disabilities.

The Paralympics have become a major force for promoting accessibility and inclusion, influencing everything from public policy to the design of sporting venues and infrastructure in host cities.

Conclusion:
From its humble beginnings in a small English hospital to a global sporting spectacle, the Paralympic Games have grown to become one of the world’s most important sporting events. They now stand as a symbol of human endurance, strength, and equality, with millions of viewers tuning in to witness the achievements of athletes with disabilities.

NOTABLE ATHLETES & CHAMPIONS OF PARALYMPICS
Several athletes have become notable winners and icons in the history of the Paralympic Games, achieving remarkable feats in their respective sports. Here are some of the most celebrated Paralympic champions:

1. Trischa Zorn (USA)
– Sport: Swimming
– Achievements: Trischa Zorn is the most decorated Paralympian of all time. Over her career, she won an astounding 55 medals, including 41 gold, across seven Paralympic Games (1980-2004). Zorn, who is blind, specialized in swimming events like freestyle, backstroke, and medley.

2. Marcel Hug (Switzerland)
– Sport: Wheelchair Racing
– Achievements: Nicknamed “The Silver Bullet,” Hug has won multiple gold medals in events such as the marathon and the 800m at the Paralympics. He secured two gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, adding to his tally of several medals from prior Games.

3. Tanni Grey-Thompson (UK)
– Sport: Wheelchair Racing
– Achievements: One of the UK’s most famous Paralympians, Grey-Thompson won 11 gold medals and 16 Paralympic medals overall during her career, which spanned five Paralympic Games (1988-2004). She dominated in events ranging from 100m to the marathon.

4. Sarah Storey (UK)
– Sport: Cycling and Swimming
– Achievements: Sarah Storey is one of the most successful British Paralympians. With a total of 17 gold medals across multiple Paralympic Games, she has excelled in both swimming and cycling events. Storey has competed in eight Paralympic Games since 1992, beginning her career as a swimmer before transitioning to cycling.

5. Beatrice “Bebe” Vio (Italy)
– Sport: Wheelchair Fencing
– Achievements: Bebe Vio is an inspiring figure in fencing. Despite losing both her arms and legs to meningitis, she went on to win gold in individual foil at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Her story and performance have made her a global icon.

6. Oksana Masters (USA)
– Sport: Multiple Sports (Rowing, Cross-Country Skiing, Cycling)
– Achievements: Oksana Masters is a multi-sport athlete who has won medals in both summer and winter Paralympic Games. She has accumulated 17 Paralympic medals (9 gold) across rowing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, and cycling, establishing herself as a versatile and formidable competitor.

7. Shingo Kunieda (Japan)
– Sport: Wheelchair Tennis
– Achievements: Kunieda is a wheelchair tennis legend, having won three Paralympic gold medals (in 2008, 2012, and 2020) in men’s singles and doubles events. He is also a multiple-time Grand Slam champion.

8. Avani Lekhara (India)
– Sport: Shooting
– Achievements: Lekhara made history at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. She triumphed in the 10m air rifle standing event (SH1 class), becoming a national icon.

9. Jonnie Peacock (UK)
– Sport: Athletics (Sprinting)
– Achievements: A double gold medalist in the T44 100 meters, Peacock gained global fame for his victories at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. He became a household name in the UK, inspiring many young athletes with disabilities.

These athletes are celebrated not only for their sporting success but also for their personal resilience, often overcoming immense physical challenges to become the best in the world in their fields. Their contributions have greatly shaped the Paralympic movement and inspired millions globally.

THE OPENING CEREMONY:
AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE FOR ATHLETES AND SPECTATORS

The ceremony will begin with a grand parade along the famous Champs-Elysées, featuring up to 184 delegations from across the globe. This unforgettable celebration will be open to all, allowing spectators to share in the excitement alongside 6,000 athletes and officials. For those with tickets, the official parade will proceed to Place de la Concorde, accompanied by ceremonial and artistic performances. The opening of the Paralympic Games is set to be a truly remarkable occasion, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.

In collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF), and local authorities, Paris 2024 is committed to ensuring universal accessibility for all. Every effort will be made to create a barrier-free experience so that athletes, participants, and spectators alike can fully enjoy this exceptional event.

Place de la Concorde is a renowned Parisian square located between the Champs-Elysées and the Tuileries Gardens, near the Assemblée Nationale and the Grand Palais. As the largest square in Paris, it connects several historic buildings and monuments that reflect France’s rich history. Established during the Enlightenment, Place de la Concorde embodies the philosophical, literary, and cultural heritage of that era, aligning with the values of the Paralympic movement. Together with the Champs-Elysées, the world’s most beautiful avenue, it will be transformed into a spectacular venue to highlight the Paralympic movement in a stunning setting.

WATCH THE OPENING CEREMONY:

WATCH SOME NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS BELOW: