Paratriathlon confirmed in programme for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

by Olalla Cernuda on 25 Jan, 2019 01:57 • Español

The Governing Board of the International Paralympic Committee has announced that the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sport programme will remain the same as for Tokyo 2020, with Paratriathlon once again being among the 22 sports included.

The 22 sports of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be: athletics, archery, badminton, blind football, boccia, canoe, cycling, equestrian, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

“We are absolutely delighted with this announcement. Given the limitations to a certain degree of the Paralympic Games programme, it is a huge achievement for ITU that paratriathlon maintains its status within the Paralympic Programme. ITU continues to strive to grow the presence of our sport in the Paralympics, and we will continue to work closely with the IPC and all our stakeholders to strengthen that presence in the Paralympics and to try to increase the number of medal events and athletes that will compete in Paris under the Eiffel Tower in 2024”, said ITU President and IOC member, Marisol Casado.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “I would like to send my warmest congratulations to the 22 sports that will form part of a mouth-watering Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sport programme.

“I think the final Paris 2024 programme is extremely attractive and exciting. It features 22 Para sports that have strong global appeal, support gender balance and offer athletes with a wide range of impairments - including those with high support needs - opportunities to compete on the biggest stage of all in the French capital”, he said.

The IPC had reviewed 23 strong bids and all were viable for inclusion in the Games, which underlines the growing strength of the Paralympic Movement. In deciding those final sports for inclusion, the IPC Board assessed all applications and committed to the Paralympic Movement’s desire to pursue gender parity, safeguard the involvement of athletes with high support needs and ensure that a diverse range of nations could take part. In line with the Olympic Agenda 2020, the Board needed to maintain athlete numbers at around 4,350 and ensure that any potential changes to the sport programme were cost neutral.

With these guiding principles, expanding the Games to 23 sports was not a viable option without growing athlete numbers beyond 4,350 or increasing costs.

Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 President, said: “We welcome the IPC Governing Board’s decision on the Paralympic Games sport programme. This a key moment in our journey towards the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We congratulate the IPC and the International Federations who took part in the process and look forward to developing with them an event programme that will dazzle the world in 2024 and showcase Paralympic sports like never before. This is only the beginning. The next step is to finalise the venue master plan and ensure Paris delivers on its promise to offer the most breathtaking and innovative stage for Paralympians to excite the world.”