PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![A male swimmer with a cap of Australia jumping in the water with another male swimmer in the foreground](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-02/GettyImages-1337727272.jpg?itok=g5R41Yk7)
Hodge leads home squad at season opener World Series in Australia
Citi Para Swimming World Series kicks off in Melbourne with 93 athletes from 11 countries including a local star aiming high for the new season
![A female runner smiles and raises her right arm in a salute as she comes off the running track.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-02/Hlompho%20Kete%20hand%20wave.jpg?h=558955cf&itok=xEkC10iO)
Self-acceptance helps Kete embrace life after losing eyesight in medical mystery
"I’ve learned that I’m like this, I have to accept myself like this" - teenage sprinter from Lesotho encourages young athletes to be confident about their disabilities and to chase their dreams
![A male wheelchair tennis player makes a serve on a hard green court with his left arm stretched out wide.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-02/Michael%20Jeremiasz%20Rio%202016.jpg?h=e62e0459&itok=cMbd82tb)
Jeremiasz serves up intimate talk on sex and disability in groundbreaking podcast
No topics are off limits for Paralympic champion and Paris 2024 Ambassador Michael Jeremiasz who is eager to encourage people with disabilities to be open about their sexuality
![A man stands in front of a display of chocolates](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-02/1%20Gerrard%20Gosens%20chocolate.jpg?h=22f93aea&itok=RH8zEYQw)
Three-time Paralympian, chocolate maker Gosens says “yes” to all things sweet in life
Looking for something sweet to give your date on Valentine's Day? Australian Para triathlete Gerrard Gosens, who runs a chocolate business in Brisbane, Australia, may have the perfect solution
![Tunisia's wheelchair racing star Walid Ktila](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-06/Walid%20Ktila.jpg?itok=uB4t2RNO)
Tunis 2023: Ktila, Chida shine with twin golds
Paralympic stars propel hosts Tunisia to top of medals table; Iraq and Uzbekistan impress too at season opener
![Two sets of mascot designs, one is a pair of flowers and the other is a pair of stoats](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-06/Milano%20Cortina%20mascot%20design%20shortlist_0.jpg?itok=QuN2qZcM)
Milano Cortina 2026 unveils finalists of mascots designs submitted by school students
Two proposals inspired by the nature of Italy were revealed on 8 February at the Sanremo music festival, and a public survey was launched to help select the design of the Games mascots
![Three men wearing Italy's Para ice hockey jersey posing for a picture](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-02/IMG_20220803_174050_996%20%28002%29.jpg?itok=Ptjiy9c0)
Macri heading to his fifth Games in a different fashion
Defender is one of three players on the Italian national team working for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Organising Committee
![Paris 2024 Look of the Games featuring Champ de Mars Arena](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-02/Paris2024-Look%20of%20the%20Games-Champ-de-Mars%20Arena.jpg?h=bccbafc2&itok=nDG5Q0Rg)
Paris 2024 reveals official pictograms, Look of the Games
The 23 Paralympic disciplines are represented by 15 Paralympic-only pictograms and eight pictograms that are shared with Olympic disciplines
![Shingo Kunieda holds his gold medal and mascot on podium](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-09/GettyImages-1338261777.jpg?h=050ff4d9&itok=T0QaLafz)
Japan’s five-time Paralympian Kunieda says he had the “best” tennis career
Shingo Kunieda announced his retirement from wheelchair tennis in January 2023 while at the top of the men’s singles rankings
![A graphic to announce the volunteer application for Manchester 2023 with a picture of six volunteers](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-02/Apply%20to%20volunteer%20MCR2023%20post%20%281%29.jpg?itok=HpVDnEGi)
Manchester 2023: Applications open for volunteer opportunities
Around 250 volunteers to help delivering the World Championships; completed application forms must be submitted to no later than 24 March