The Paralympics celebrates its 60th birthday soon and always takes place around two weeks after the Olympic Games. Paris will host the Paralympic Games for the first time from August 28th to September 8th, 2024. The opening ceremony will be held on Le Place de la Concorde after which 549 events will take place at various venues. Para-equestrian events will occur at the Château de Versailles park. Many people have put in hard work to raise the profile of the Paralympics in recent years.
Many sports and athletes
At first, the Paralympics was mainly for those in wheelchairs, and wheelchair rugby, tennis, basketball, and fencing are still popular sports. In 1976, the Paralympics expanded to include competitors with other disabilities. In Paris this year, there will be 22 sports and 4,400 athletes altogether from 182 nations. This includes at least 1,859 women.
Wagering on sports has long been legal in Europe, but now it is legal in many U.S. states, too. Sports betting from Michigan and other U.S. states will be possible for the Olympic Games and Paralympics. Betting markets for the Paralympics are similar to those for the Olympics but betting on certain sports may not be possible. This is because demand and supply often dictate markets on which bookmakers offer bets.
Disabled access
With about 35,000 visitors with disabilities expected in Paris, the city is working with disability experts on stepping up disabled access, especially at Olympic venues. One of these venues is a temporary outdoor stadium near the Eiffel Tower. It will host the blind soccer event. The balls used in blind soccer are filled with bells so players can locate them. The best disabled soccer players in the world will compete in the Paralympic Games for a place on the podium, and they are used to playing at great soccer stadiums.
Symbols and values
The Paralympic Games have a symbol with special meaning, just like the Olympic rings. Three Agitos consist of red, blue, and green. Agitos is Latin for ‘I move.’ The values the Paralympians embody are courage, determination, inspiration, and equality. They help break down barriers, transform attitudes, and inspire future generations worldwide
Two unique sports
Two of the sports are unique to disabled sports. Boccia is played indoors, and players need precision and dexterity to throw or roll six balls close to the white ball. Athletes with severe motor impairments play it in wheelchairs.
Goalball is a team sport for the visually impaired, partially sighted, or blind. Two teams of three players compete on a pitch. One team bounces a large ball towards the other team. The opponents have to prevent the ball from getting across the goal line. They do so by diving to the ground to stop it. Some of the top paralympic athletes in goalball to watch in Paris 2024 are Sevda Altunoluk (Turkey), Audrey Belkhir (France), and Christian King (USA).
Six different disability groups
Paralympic athletes don’t allow their disabilities to prevent them from playing sports. The six different disability groups include visual impairment, intellectual disability, amputee, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and ‘others.’
In Para athletics, the participants competing in visual impairment categories can choose to run with a guide. The athlete must always cross the line ahead of the guide and not the other way around. Athletes with intellectual disabilities can take part in athletics, swimming, and table tennis. Visually impaired athletes can compete in Para Judo. Athletes with upper limb disabilities take part in Para Taekwondo. In Para archery, some competitors shoot with their feet if they don’t have the use of their arms.
Disability classifications
Some events are subdivided into categories, and athletes with similar disabilities compete against one another. For example, in Para Table Tennis, there are 11 different disability classifications. In Para powerlifting, competitors are separated into categories depending on their body weight rather than disabilities.
