PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Reigning Paralympic champions USA will return to one of their favourite venues where they have won gold medals in their last two trips to Ostrava.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/USA-CAN%20Ostrava%202021%20-%20Photo%20by%20Czech%20Para%20Ice%20Hockey.jpg?h=fa0afe71&itok=SlXtRcnx)
World’s best return to Ostrava to revive old rivalry
Nail biting contests on the cards as Paralympic and Worlds champions USA and silver medallists Canada meet again in a familiar territory
![Three female athletes pose by raising two fingers in front of their faces at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/GettyImages-1338353238%20%281%29.jpg?h=c52d48fd&itok=GAeitFsi)
Caironi embraces friendship behind Italy’s 100m sweep at Tokyo 2020
Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Martina Caironi took silver behind her “sister” Ambra Sabatini in the women’s 100m T63, with fellow Italian and close friend Monica Graziana Contrafatto wrapping up the podium
![Athletes raise and wave French flags on stage as audience members clap.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Paris%202024%20athletes%20return.jpg?h=9c4f91a7&itok=Q5TUk_MG)
Thomas Jolly appointed Artistic Director of Paris 2024 ceremonies
Acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, Jolly is known for his talent in mixing academic and popular arts in a wide variety of genres
![A Para hockey player preparing to shoot in front of an opponent with a goaltender in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/SWE-FIN%20Ostersund%202021%20-%20Photo%20by%20Karl%20Nilsson%20-%20Parasport%20Sverige%20%20%281%29.jpg?h=983da4e3&itok=A-HmkXAU)
Top teams ready for season opener in Skien
Hosts Norway aim for returning to winning ways as Finland and Sweden keen to put up strong contest in the first event of the Nordic Challenge series
![A female athlete on a wheelchair is pulling a bow at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Zahra%20Nemati%20Tokyo%202020%20competition.jpg?h=a9edb586&itok=FB2A0aCw)
Top 5 tips to get started in Para archery from history-making champion Nemati
Nemati, the first Iranian woman to win a gold medal at either a Paralympic or Olympic Games, says having patience and hope are key to success in the sport that has taught her many important things in life
![A male athlete in a chair competing in javelin throw](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/India%20Dubai%20GP.jpg?itok=5stVwO60)
Grand Prix 2023 calendar revealed
Tunis will be the first of six cities hosting the series next year in the season that marks the 10th anniversary of the World Para Athletics GP
![Six athletes, three standing in the back and three in wheelchairs at the front, pose for a photo in front of the IPC headquarters.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-03/Athletes%20Council%20IPC%20Bonn.jpg?itok=d1ebHO8B)
Athletes’ Council meets in Bonn, encourages more athlete engagement
The members of the current Athletes' Council were elected at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games and met in-person for the first time at the IPC headquarters in Bonn
![Team Canada Head coach Tara Chisholm](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Team%20Canada.jpg?h=c7443775&itok=NFj7kL4P)
Coaches reflect on the unique experience at Green Bay
Four team leaders reflect on the impact of the first Women's World Challenge on their players and the legacy of the event
![A group of people, many wearing LA28 shirts, pose for a photo in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/LA28%20coliseum%20visit.jpg?h=be9125d9&itok=sj9L3yll)
LA28 on track to deliver “inspiring” Olympic and Paralympic Games
The LA28 Organising Committee gave updates on the progress of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games during a visit of the IOC's Coordination Commission, which included IPC President Andrew Parsons and Chief Paralympic Games Delivery Officer Colleen Wrenn
Wheelchair curler accepts six-month ban for anti-doping rule violation
Matter resolved by agreement after the IPC appealed to the CAS against a first instance national-level decision
![Local star and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist Ayoub Sadni will aim at improving his time that made him Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion in the men’s 400m T47, at home.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Morocco%27s%20Ayoub%20Sadni.jpg?h=39b499f0&itok=0iK_CxXJ)
Morocco hosts first-ever GP led by Paralympic champions
Grand Prix series returns to Africa with plenty of Tokyo 2020 champions in action in the three-day event in Marrakech
![A male in a wet suit stands on the ocean shore, his feet in the water.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Amphibian%20Namibian%20Nasilowski%201.jpg?h=514af358&itok=x4D5NfTK)
From pool to ocean, "Amphibian Namibian" is swimming with a mission
Gideon Nasilowski, who represented Namibia at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, is on a mission to swim between Robben Island and Cape Town in South Africa to prove that there is no challenge he cannot overcome
![Female Para ice hockey players wearing Great Britain jerseys form a line on the rink.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Green%20Bay%20GB.jpg?itok=wqmMWEeq)
Great Britain sets example in opening Para ice hockey to more female players
Great Britain launched the women's Para ice hockey programme last year and coach Peggy Assinck hopes that other countries will follow suit
![Action from Kosice 2022](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Kosice%202022.jpg?h=08ca8e6c&itok=IAKqNunI)
Kasicka leads hosts to the top at Kosice 2022
Slovakian dazzles with four golds as hosts ends on top; Italy and Ukraine also shine in final event ahead of next month's European Championships
![a female wheelchair tennis player hits a forehand](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2019-09/Diede-de-Groot-US-Open.jpg?h=c4341898&itok=nc2ZZXf5)
De Groot wins US Open to follow Golden Slam with calendar Grand Slam
De Groot: “This is something that nobody’s ever done and no one’s ever going to take that away from me”
![A graphic mockup of what Place de la Bastille will look like on Paralympic Day.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Paralympic%20Day%20Paris%202024%20mockup%202.jpg?itok=rzZqplcv)
Paralympic Day to take over Place de la Bastille on October 8
Paralympic Day will give visitors an opportunity to try Para sports and meet accomplished Para athletes
![A female wheelchair dancer with a red dress during a competition](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Bonn%202019%20-%20Helena%20Kasicka.jpg?itok=9aWjrmZU)
World Cup returns to Kosice as final test for Euros
World champion Kasicka to lead hosts Slovakia's challenge as 15 nations to fight for medals during two days of competition
![Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Edward look on from the royal box during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-09/Queen%20Elizabeth%20II%20London%202012.jpg?h=e496c625&itok=BhKlFq5f)
Statement from IPC President Andrew Parsons on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The International Paralympic Committee expresses its condolences following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II
![A female swimmer swimming breaststroke](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2022-07/1801532.jpg?itok=VaFRRBd-)
World Para Swimming launches new Citi Para Swimming World Series
Next season to include nine Series across four continents from February to November with new dates for Singapore announced
![Annika Zeyen running](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-08/GettyImages-1337411315low.jpg?h=8e1ce850&itok=bnQ5Fzxy)
Top 5 tips to get started in road cycling from golden girl Annika Zeyen
Multi-Paralympic and world champion gives advice on how to go from recreational cyclist to racing supernova