Ready to cheer on our Paralympians in Paris? Here's everything you need to know about diving in.
Every four years, the Paralympics are held as a testament to the determination and skills of the world's best athletes living with disability. While they mark a significant moment on the worldwide sporting calendar, they also play a pivotal role in challenging social perceptions and encouraging people to think differently about disability.
Paris will host the upcoming 2024 Paralympics. It will be an unparalleled display of resilience, skill, and spirit for the whole world.
Let's dive in and learn more about the games.
What are the Paralympics?
Held in tandem with the Olympic Games, the Paralympics features thousands of athletes living with various abilities. From physical disabilities to visual and intellectual impairments, the Games shine a light on the world's most skilled athletes.
Where and when are they happening?
This year, the Paralympic Games will be in Paris, France, from 28 August to 8 September, 2024. Beloved for its rich cultural heritage and iconic sights, the French capital will host 4,400 athletes from across the globe for its 11-day event.
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Make sure you save time watch the Opening Ceremony on the 28th of August. For us Aussies, it'll happen live on the 29th from 4 am to 7 am. So unless you're a die-hard fan, you might want to stick to watching it afterwards.
From then on, it's go-time. The very next day, things jump into full swing, with swimming, table tennis, track cycling, taekwondo, and a range of other events taking place.
Visit the Paralympics website for the full schedule.
As the Games close, don’t forget to tune in for the Paralympics Closing Ceremony, kicking off at 4am AEST on the 9th of September.
How can I watch the Paralympics?
You can keep up with all of the action on Channel Nine and Stan Sport, the same as the 2024 Olympics.
What sports will it feature?
The Games will feature 22 sports across 549 events. The sports are:
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Blind football
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Archery
- Canoeing
- Road cycling
- Track cycling
- Equestrian
- Judo
- Table tennis
- Taekwondo
- Triathlon
- Shooting
- Sitting volleyball
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair fencing
- Wheelchair rugby
- Wheelchair tennis.
The Australian Paralympic team
This year, Australia’s Paralympic team is set to be stronger than ever, with 88 participants across 16 different disciplines. Consistently strong in the pool and on the track, Australia boasts 30 members on the swimming team and 32 on the athletics team.
Check out the full list of Aussie Paralympic athletes.
Can you even imagine what our Australian Paralympic team is capable of?
Imagine what we can do
We 100% can – and that's why the road to Paris has been forged with a head-strong campaign acknowledging what the athletes can do with the full support of the nation behind them.
Catherine Clark, CEO of Paralympics Australia, said the campaign hopes to encourage fellow Aussies to get behind the ‘phenomenal high-performance athletes as they step onto the world stage'.
And the hype isn't just for the athletes delivering on the world stage. Clark says one in four Australians who live with disability currently participate in a sports-related activity at least once a week – and the other three in four would like to. However, a lack of appropriate coaching and facilities creates barriers.
"We hope to inspire every person with a disability to imagine what they can do and participate in sport," she said.
The campaign features Paralympian legends, including Ruby Storm, Angie Ballard, Curtis McGrath, Jamieson Leeson and Lin Ma.
No matter what sports you watch, the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games will be a blast. It's never about the medals – instead, it's an extraordinary celebration of human potential. The dedication and resilience that our athletes show day after day will stand the test of time, and we are here to support them by not only imagining what they can do, but also knowing what they have already achieved.
