As Paris is gearing up to launch its Summer Paralympics 2024 from August 28 to September 8, over 4,000 athletes with disabilities and impairments are set to showcase their talents and compete for about 549 medals across 22 sports during these 11 days. This will be the first summer paralympic to be held in France and the second paralympic games after 1942, when Tignes Albertville hosted the Paralympic Winter Games.
What’s Special about Summer Paralympics 2024?
For the first time, an opening ceremony will be held outside a stadium on August 28 along the Parisian boulevard of the Champs-Élysées, terminating at the iconic Place de la Concorde in the center of the French capital. The closing ceremony is scheduled for September 9.
This time Paris aimed to organize the most sustainable Paralympics, using 95% existing or temporary venues. The city has also worked to enhance its public transport, including buses, and urban tram networks have undergone accessibility improvements. Over 5000 volunteers from the city have provided disability awareness training while 260 are chosen to help the invitees specifically with accessibility issues.
This time, the 17th Summer Paralympic Games 2024 will feature about 22 sports, including goalball and Boccia, added to it.
Additionally, there will be 300 hours of live coverage, making it one of the most broadcast Paralympics ever.
Events and Athletes at Paralympics 2024
While there were 329 events held at the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024, the Paralympics 2024 will hold 549 medal events, including 164 in para-athletics and 141 in para-swimming.
Further, around 4,400 athletes from 180 National Paralympic Committees are anticipated to compete in the Refugee Paralympic Team and Neutral Paralympic Athletes.
The Refugee Paralympic Team is made up of eight athletes and two sighted guides called Refugees. These may have no physical or other such disabilities but are full-fledged paralympians and can receive medals too.
Indian Paralympians set for Paris 2024
As per the sources, this time India is preparing to send more athletes than ever. Over 80 athletes are set to compete in 12 sports, including in three new sports categories: blind judo, para-rowing, and paracycling.
India’s javelin thrower and medalist of the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 is also aiming to compete this time and set new records. He has been completely trained and built enough strength to compete in the Men’s F64 segment.
Shooter Avani Lekhara, with a world record in the Women’s R2 10m air rifle in Tokyo 2020, is also competing in the Paris Paralympics 2024. She was the first Indian woman to win gold at the Paralympics.
Javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shot putter Bhagyashri Jadhav will be India’s flag-bearers at the opening ceremony.
Sports venues for Paralympics 2024
The Paris Paralympics 2024 will host the competitions in 16 stadiums and sports venues where the previous Olympics were conducted, including the Eiffel Tower Stadium (blind football), the Grand Palais (wheelchair fencing and para taekwondo), and the Château de Versailles (para equestrian).
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