Organising committee of Paris 2024 has unveiled its competition schedule which will see elite athletes enthrall the world
With under 600 days to go before France hosts its first Paralympic Games, the organising committee of Paris 2024 has unveiled its competition schedule which will see elite athletes enthrall the world over 11 days of breathtaking action between August 28 to September 8, 2024.
According to a press statement, the event schedule, developed in close collaboration with the International Federations, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), gives a clear picture of what fans around the world can look forward to at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The statement adds that the world’s best para athletes are assembling in Paris ready to make more history. Some of the notable ones include ‘The Blade Jumper’ Markus Rehm, a German parathelete, who has won the last three Paralympic titles in long jump and holds the world record of 8.62m, which is longer than the winning men’s long jump at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics of 8.41m.
Also listed is the Brazil blind football team, who since the sport was introduced to the Paralympics in 2004 have won 27 matches in a row to become Paralympic champions five times.
The statement adds that the Dutch phenomenon Diede de Groot, who after becoming the first women’s wheelchair tennis player to achieve the Golden Slam in 2021 being the singles gold medallist at the Paralympic Games and singles winner of the four Grand Slams, in 2022 became the first tennis player ever, not just wheelchair tennis player, to win back-to-back calendar Grand Slams.
The statement says that competitions will start the day after the Opening Ceremony on August 29, 2024, with spectators able to enjoy Wheelchair Rugby, Para Taekwondo, Para Archery, Boccia, Para Table Tennis, Goalball, Wheelchair Basketball, Para Badminton, Para Swimming, Sitting Volleyball and Para Cycling. The first medals will be awarded on this first day in Para Taekwondo (three medals), Para Swimming (16 medals) and Para Cycling (four medals). In total, 23 medals will be awarded on the first day, says the statement.
It adds that in the evenings, visitors can attend the Boccia, Blind Football and Goalball finals. All the Para Swimming finals will also be held in the evening at the Paris Arena La Défense, and many Para Athletics finals will take place at the Stade de France.
The Paris Paralympic Games competition will feature a record number of medal events for women and the calendar has two fabulous weekends of competition that will delight families and lucky ticket holders. On the last day of the Games, September 8, women will be in the spotlight with the majority of events being women’s events. No less than 14 medals will be awarded on the final day.
From the autumn of 2023, tickets will go on sale with Paris 2024 offering accessible pricing to enable as many people as possible to discover this exceptional event, says the statement.
