50 reasons why you can’t miss the Paris 2024 Paralympics

With 50 days to go until the opening of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, here are 50 storylines to follow and reasons why you shouldn’t miss the Games.

 

1. First summer Paralympic Games in France

The Paris 2024 Paralympics, which take place between 28 August and 8 September, are the first summer Paralympic Games hosted in France. 

 

2. First Opening Ceremony outside a stadium

Paris 2024 will mark the first time the Opening Ceremony of a Paralympic Games is held outside a stadium. Athletes will parade through the heart of the French capital to the iconic Place de la Concorde.

 

3. French stars ready for a home Games

France finished with 11 gold, 15 silver and 29 bronze medals at Tokyo 2020. The host country is targeting 20 gold medals in Paris. Can they do this in front of a home crowd?

 

4. A piece of the Eiffel Tower

Speaking of medals, did you know that medallists can bring home a piece of the Eiffel Tower? The Paris 2024 medals include a piece of the original iron of the famous French landmark.

 

5. Spectators return to the Games

Paralympic fans from around the world will fill the stands at Paris 2024. After two Games without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t wait to see thousands of people cheering for the athletes.

 

6. Meet the Paralympic Phryge, the Paris 2024 mascot

The Paralympic Phryge is ready to welcome you to France when the Games open on 28 August.

 

7. China aim to top the medals table for the sixth straight Games

China have topped the overall medals table at every summer edition of the Paralympics since Athens 2004. The country bagged 63 gold medals at Athens 2004, 89 at Beijing 2008, 95 at London 2012, 107 at Rio 2016 and 96 at Tokyo 2020. How many gold medals will Chinese athletes win in Paris?

 

8. Who will win the competitive men’s 100m T64 race?

Don’t miss the men’s 100m T64 race. Italy’s Maxcel Amo Manu surprised the crowd at the Paris 23 Para Athletics World Championships last year, finishing ahead of reigning Paralympic champion Felix Streng of Germany and silver medallist Sherman Guity of Costa Rica. Guity won the race at the Kobe 2024 Worlds. 

 

9. The men’s high jump T63 promises drama

The men’s T63 high jump is incredibly close too. At the 2023 Worlds, US star Ezra Frech landed a world record to take the title, but recently in May that title was taken away from him by huge rival Mariyappan Thangavelu of India. Those two and defending Paralympic champion Sam Grewe will compete for gold in Paris.

 

10. Blind football matches at the foot of the Eiffel Tower

The iconic landmark will serve as a backdrop to the blind football matches at Paris 2024.

 

11. France take on unbeaten blind football champions Brazil

Brazil have been invincible at the Paralympic Games, winning every title since the inaugural blind football tournament at Athens 2004. But France are hoping to turn the tables in Paris 2024.

 

12. The women’s singles SH6 event introduced in Para badminton

The women’s singles SH6 event will be staged at the Paralympics for the first time. India’s Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, followed by Carmen Giuliana Poveda Flores of Peru and Rachel Choong of Great Britain. Who will capture the inaugural title in Paris?

 

13. Para athletics star Wojtek Czyz makes history for New Zealand  

Para athletics legend Wojtek Czyz will be the first Para badminton player to represent New Zealand at the Paralympics. Czyz, a former long jumper and sprinter, won four Paralympic golds across three Games for Germany before retiring from Para athletics in 2013. He has qualified for his fourth Games for his adopted country and will return to the biggest stage with a big goal. 

“I simply want to show everyone in New Zealand and beyond what is possible. You need to want it, and the moment you really dedicate yourself to something and really fight for it, success will come to you,” Czyz said. “That’s the main reason why I’m doing it. I’m really looking forward to inspiring the next generation and helping New Zealand to grow new athletes in Para sport.”

 

14. Gender-specific medal events make debut in boccia

Paris 2024 will mark the first time that boccia has gender-specific medal events, stemming from the broader effort to give more competition opportunities to athletes with high support needs. There will be 11 medal events in Paris compared to seven in Tokyo. 

 

15. Kayleigh Haggo qualifies in boccia 

Kayleigh Haggo will make her Paralympic debut in Paris. She is a huge star in the track sport of frame running and made her transition to boccia in 2022.

Paris 2024 will be a special Games for Haggo. She is set to get married after the Games to her fiance Kevin, who will be her competition assistant at the Paralympics. 

 

16. Damien Letulle’s emotional return to the Invalides 

Damien Letulle, who competed at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, is the only French archer competing in the W1 class.

For Letulle, competing in the Invalides, the Paris 2024 Para archery venue, carries a special meaning. It is not only because he wants to take part in the biggest showcase of Para sports, but also because he spent time in the Invalides before, rehabilitating from his accident.

 

17. Azerbaijan’s unstoppable campaign in Para judo 

At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Azerbaijan bagged six of the 13 gold medals up for grabs in Para judo. Shahana Hajiyeva led the charge by defeating France’s Sandrine Martinet in the women’s -48kg final. How will Azerbaijan do in Paris?

 

18. Bebe Vio targets Paralympic hat-trick in wheelchair fencing

When Italy’s wheelchair fencing icon Bebe Vio looks back at the two Paralympics that she has been a part of, she describes them as special in different ways. She was ‘wowed’ by everything she saw at her first Paralympics in Rio 2016, while at Tokyo 2020 it was the importance of the team that stood out, in what was a very different Games experience during the Covid pandemic.

Vio is aiming to make the Paris 2024 Games special by winning her third gold medal.

 

 

19. Para triathletes race in the heart of Paris

Para triathletes from around the world will compete in the heart of Paris on 1 and 2 September. The race will start on Pont Alexandre III, a bridge between the Seine’s two banks. 

 

20. Home favourite Alexis Hanquinquant targets back-to-back gold

French Para triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant won the men’s PTS4 event in his Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020. Three years later, he is aiming to top the podium in front of a home crowd at Paris 2024.

 

21. Diede de Groot aims to continue her dominance

Dutch wheelchair tennis superstar Diede De Groot has not lost a Grand Slam match in the women's singles since the 2020 French Open. Yui Kamiji has won eight Grand Slams, the last being that 2020 French Open. Will De Groot continue her dominance at the Roland Garros? 

 

22. Para equestrian royalty crowned at the Versailles

Fans will witness Paralympic royalty crowned at the Chateau de Versailles, which was home to the court of Louis XIV in 1682. There will be 11 Para equestrian medal events in Paris. 

 

23. Brazil’s Bruna Alexandre to compete at Olympics and Paralympics 

Bruna Alexandre became the first Brazilian table tennis athlete to qualify for both the Olympics and the Paralympics. How will the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver medallist do at Paris 2024?

 

24. Islamic Republic of Iran aim for third straight gold in men’s sitting volleyball 

Iran’s men’s side are aiming for a hat-trick of gold medals following victories at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. With their standout showman Morteza Mehrzadselakjani, the Iranian team is not to be missed in Paris. 

25. Simone Barlaam looks to dominate in the pool 

Italy’s Simone Barlaam is one of the biggest stars in Para swimming, winning four medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He is looking forward to "enjoy the experience" of competing at his second Games. 

 

26. Rwanda compete in women’s sitting volleyball 

Rwanda made history at Rio 2016 when they became the first women’s sitting volleyball team to represent Sub-Saharan Africa. They will make their third Paralympic appearance and are looking to impress the crowd at the North Paris Arena.

 

27. First Paris 2024 gold medal in Para cycling

The first gold medal of the Paris 2024 Paralympics will be awarded in Para cycling women’s C4-5 500m time trial on 29 August.

 

28. Can Para cyclist Keiko Sugiura extend her record as Japan’s oldest gold medallist?

Keiko Sugiura became Japan’s oldest gold medallist at Tokyo 2020, and the 53-year-old cyclist is looking to extend her record in Paris.

 

29. Hungary’s canoe champion Peter Pal Kiss returns to the Games

Hungary's Paralympic canoe champion Peter Pal Kiss was just 18 years old when he won the men's kayak single KL1 gold medal at Tokyo 2020 and made history as the youngest-ever champion in the sport. He will return to the Paralympics with three more years of training and more expectations.

 

30. Sarah Storey wants to make more history at her ninth Paralympics

Sarah Storey is the most successful British Paralympian of all time with 17 gold medals. She won three gold medals (pursuit C5, road race C4-5, and road time trial C5) at the Tokyo 2020 and aims to win more medals at Paris 2024.

 

31. Can Australia return to the wheelchair rugby podium?

Australia are the reigning world champions from 2022 and are gunning to make up for the disappointment of a fourth-place finish from Tokyo 2020 that ended an unbroken reign of Paralympic and World Championship finals appearances between 2008 and 2018. 

 

32. How many female wheelchair rugby players will there be in Paris?

Tokyo 2020 made records for becoming the first Games with four women competing in wheelchair rugby. Shae Graham became the first woman to score a try at the Paralympics. How many female athletes will there be in Paris?

 

33. Will Sevda Altunoluk star again for Turkiye?

Regarded as the world’s best player, Altunoluk will return to the Paralympics in search of a third straight gold medal in goalball.

 

34. How will India do in shooting Para sport?

At Tokyo 2020, shooting Para sport athlete Avani Lekhara made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal. Manish Narwal also topped the podium in the sport. Three years later, how will India do at Paris 2024?

 

35. France return to the men’s wheelchair basketball tournament

France’s wheelchair basketball side have qualified for the Paralympics for the first time since Athens 2004. Led by Sofyane Mehiaoui, the side improved drastically and came through the repechage tournament in France. Expect full houses for the home side in the arena.

 

36. How will Team USA do in wheelchair basketball?

One of the highlights of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was the men’s wheelchair basketball gold medal match between the USA and Japan. Steve Serio helped the USA come from behind in the last five minutes. 

 

37. Tokito Oda aims for spotlight in Paralympic debut

There will be a new Paralympic champion in the men’s singles and the men’s quads. In the men’s singles, hotly tipped Tokito Oda will be looking to fill the shoes of Shingo Kunieda, who retired after winning gold at his home Games in Tokyo. A breakthrough star, Oda is just 18 years old and has won multiple slams already. Paris will be his first Paralympics. 

 

38. Anastasia Pagonis aims for back-to-back gold in Para swimming

Anastasia Pagonis won her first ever Paralympic title aged 17 in the pool. Now just 20, the Long Islander is aiming to win back-to-back golds in the pool. Her title won in the 400m freestyle S11.

 

39. Para taekwondo athletes take centre stage

Para taekwondo will return to the Paralympics after making its debut at Tokyo 2020. Para taekwondo is a contact sport featuring rapid and powerful kicks to the body. Do you know how athletes can score points? Don’t miss the action at the Grand Palais.

 

40. Birgit Skarstein proving she is unstoppable 

World Cup winning cross-country skier, Paralympic rowing champion, reality TV star, and a role model – Norway’s Birgit Skarstein is many things to many people. Skarstein is aiming for her second gold at Paris 2024.

 

41. Sherif Osman targeting fourth Para powerlifting gold

Egypt’s Sherif Osman has said he is targeting six gold medals in his storied career. After finishing with a silver at Tokyo 2020, he is looking for his fourth gold medal at Paris 2024.

 

42. Meet Nigeria’s Para table tennis power couple

Nigeria's Para table tennis power couple Christiana and Kayode Alabi met through the sport and spend most of their waking hours striving to get better. They are hoping to celebrate together at Paris 2024. 

 

43. Morocco aim for another podium finish in blind football

Morocco stole the show at Tokyo 2020 when they won a surprise bronze medal in the blind football tournament. The African nation finished last in their Paralympic debut at Rio 2016, but soared to a podium finish five years later thanks to four impressive goals by Zouhair Snisla. Will the African nation continue their charge at Paris 2024?

 

44. How many medals will Team USA collect in Paris?

The USA top the all-time Paralympic summer Games medal standings with 2,283 medals (808 golds, 736 silver and 739 bronze medals) since the inaugural Games in 1960.

 

45. Will there be a first Refugee Paralympic Team medallist?

Eight athletes and one guide will compete for the Refugee Paralympic Team in the French capital. Will there be a first medallist from the Refugee Paralympic Team in Paris? We cannot wait to find out.

 

46. Winter Paralympians aim big

Several Paralympic Winter Games athletes will be swapping snowsuits and skis for summer clothing in Paris. Look out for Italy's Para snowboard athlete Veronica Plebani who goes for gold in Para triathlon. The most successful Winter and Summer Paralympic athlete is the USA's Oksana Masters, who is aiming to defend her hand cycling title in Para cycling.

 

47. Flame to be lit in the birthplace of the Paralympics

The Paralympic flame will be lit in Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, on 24 August.

 

48. French fashion meets Paralympics

Medals designed by luxury jewelry maker Chaumet. Uniforms for medal presenters designed by LVMH. The Paralympics have never looked more spectacular!

 

49. Check out the Agitos on the Arc de Triomphe

The Agitos, the symbol of the Paralympic Movement, has been installed on the French capital’s iconic Arc de Triomphe. Don’t forget to go to the landmark if you are visiting Paris for the Games.

 

50. TV broadcasting reaches new milestone

If you are wondering how to follow your favourite athletes at Paris 2024, we have great news. Paris 2024 will make history as the first Paralympic Games to offer some live coverage from each of the 22 sports.  Also don't forget to follow the action on Paralympic.org and the IPC YouTube channel.

 

It is happening THIS YEAR! Have you got your #Paralympics tickets for @paris2024 yet?

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— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) January 2, 2024