PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![A general view of Blades in the Women's 100m T42 Para athletics event at the National Stadium during the 2008 Paralypic Games in Bejing, China.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/blades.jpg?itok=D3KqYmur)
Cutting-edge technology behind Para sports
From prosthetics to carbon fibre wheelchairs and assisted devices, technology for Para sports is advancing with new materials and improved designs
![A woman sending a kiss to the audience while standing on the podium waiting to receive a medal](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-01/Ellie%20Cole.jpg?itok=aEet4d24)
Tokyo Paralympics preview: Para swimming day 6
A packed schedule awaits the athletes on day six at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on 30 August with 15 gold medals to fight for
![Richardino](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/Ricardinho1.jpg?h=219cf7c8&itok=ZMaVCeF7)
How Ricardinho’s life has changed since Rio gold
Brazil’s goal-scoring captain feared a fan on motorbike was a mugger
![A woman in a racing wheelchair waving to the camera surrounded by other six female wheelchair racers](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/GettyImages-605934642.jpg?itok=219yWK4v)
Tokyo Paralympics: Para athletics day 2 preview
Paralympic legends and newcomers take centre stage on 28 August at the National Olympic Stadium in the Japanese capital
![a para swimmer celebrates in the pool](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/170721141440778_Carlos%2BSerrano.jpg?itok=s13M37Y6)
Colombia bank on new talent to swell medals tally at Tokyo
A record 69 athletes head to Tokyo, almost double the team of 39 at Rio 2016
![a male Para swimmer celebrates in the water](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2019-09/Simone-Barlaam-London-2019-day-2.jpg?h=1faa62d5&itok=Tgxel0f2)
Tokyo Paralympics preview: Para swimming day 5
All you need to know to follow the action at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on day five, 29 August at the Paralympic Games
![a Para equestrian rider laughing](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/170912120822495_Sophie%2BChristiansen%2Bcropped.jpg?itok=aSAfF6cQ)
Sophie Christiansen out of Paralympics due to ‘veterinary issue’ with horse
'I’m absolutely heartbroken to announce that Louie and I will not be going to Tokyo'
![A man without the left forearm on a blue athletics track](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/49053202431_e65d6b1f02_c.jpg?h=900449cd&itok=yLwcs1gY)
Tokyo Paralympics: Para athletics day 1 preview
Fourteen gold medals up for grabs as track and field events kick off in the Games at the National Olympic Stadium on 27 August
![A woman posing for a photo with a smile on her face while holding a gold medal in her right hand and a mascot in her left hand](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/GettyImages-607344580.jpg?itok=9rqVSjl2)
Tokyo Paralympics preview: Para swimming day 4
Old rivalries, Paralympic legends and Games debuts in the programme for 28 August at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre
![Female dancer in wheelchair and standing male partner dance to quickstep](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2019-11/helena-kasicka-stefan-stropko.jpg?h=0405f316&itok=PY9FoqJ9)
Para dance reaches new milestone at Prague 2021
Czech Republic hosts an international competition for the first time with 48 athletes from 10 countries in action as the Road to Ulsan 2021 continues
![Amalia Perez smiles and points to the sky](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/190612082646389_Amalia-Perez_0.jpg?itok=ajxAHV3u)
Mexico aim for 100th Paralympic gold
The Latin American country made their Paralympic debut nearly half a century ago, at Heidelberg 1972
![IPC President Andrew Parsons](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/Andrew%20Parsons.jpg?h=674b2f43&itok=nS05uqnY)
IPC President encouraged by safe delivery of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
'The Games have proven that the COVID-19 countermeasures, which form the cornerstone of the Playbooks, work. This can only give us confidence as we gear up for the Paralympic Games'
![male USA ice hockey players celebrate hugigng in a big group on the ice](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/181130132519426_USA-win-PyeongChang.jpg?itok=EjlJvmKj)
Road to Beijing 2022: Qualification explained
With a little more than half a year to the Winter Paralympics, five teams have already qualified for the tournament, with three spots left to fill
![A man in the pool smiles with a thumbs up](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/GettyImages-601968716%281%29.jpg?h=050ff4d9&itok=YrGJlJtM)
Tokyo Paralympics preview: Para swimming day 3
A closer look at all the action taking place on the third day of competition at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on 27 August
![Bo Kramer](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/Bo%20Kramer.jpg?itok=85WXazcH)
Netherlands' Bo Kramer reveals her inner steel ahead of Tokyo
Orange Lion welcomes the pressure of being gold medal favourites
![Ade Adepitan](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/Ade%20Adepitan%203.jpg?h=2ee3c751&itok=fliMe1L2)
Athens 2004 medal was mission accomplished for Ade Adepitan
Wheelchair basketball ‘blew away my preconceptions about disability’
![A woman kissing her gold medal](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/Teresa%20Perales%20-%20Rio%202016.jpg?itok=1-I-hla_)
Tokyo Paralympics preview: Para swimming day 2
Second day at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre will see 14 finals, plenty of Paralympic stars and newcomers to watch out for
![ara athletes (L) Melissa Nair Tillner Galeano with her guide and (R) Rodrigo Hermosa will represent in Paraguay's debut Games at Tokyo.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-06/Paraguay%202.jpg.jpg?itok=RYqnpyCn)
Paraguay look to change perception with Paralympic debut
'There is still ignorance about the physical and sports activities that people with disabilities can access and the benefits they bring to health, to the improvement of the quality of life and, above all, that they can represent an entire country'
![a female Para athlete holds up a French flag](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/images/180612082823419_Marie%2BAmelie%2BLe%2BFur.jpg?itok=_h8jquRD)
France aim for Tokyo success, with eye on Paris
'For judokas, the Tokyo Games in the land of judo have a very special flavour, winning there is a plus and for us French a springboard for the Paris Games in three years'