Wheelchair basketball has been confirmed as part of the Parapan American Games 17-strong sports programme for Santiago 2023.
The Local Organising Committee announced that the Games, which will open on 17 November and close on 26 November 2023, will feature 17 Para sports and 18 disciplines.
The Para sports are: Para archery, Para athletics, Para badminton, blind football, boccia, Para cycling (road and track), CP football, goalball, judo, Para powerlifting, shooting Para sport, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) President, Julio César Ávila, said:
“Congratulations to all 17 sports that will be part of the sports programme at the next Parapan American Games in Santiago, in 2023.
“The International Paralympic Committee (IPC)/APC reviewed applications from a total of 23 Para sports against a variety of criteria such as anti-doping compliance, competition opportunities in the Americas and participation numbers. The 17 selected Para sports give us confidence in a robust Games programme reflecting the most popular Para sports in our region.
“The programme features an attractive mix of exciting and extremely engaging Para sports; we are committed to organising a historic Games in Santiago.”
Santiago 2023 CEO, Felipe De Pablo, added:
"We are fully satisfied with the sports programme of the Parapan American Games. It is very attractive for competitors and spectators. We have worked on these Games in the same way we do for the Pan American Games, replicating every action for both competitions.
"We want the Americas to know that we are talking about high performance athletes, that the venues will be full of people. With this programme we are convinced that we will have a wonderful show, which will enhance all the capacities of those who come to fight for a medal. Athletes and Para athletes are and will always be the heart of our Games".
APC Athlete Representative Ileana Rodriguez said: "This is not an easy decision to make as it directly impacts the athletes, who go through years of hard training and competing to reach their best form ahead of the Parapan American Games.
"I am convinced these Games will be the best yet in terms of sporting performances; our outstanding Para athletes will inspire millions and forever change Chilean society and how disability is perceived.”
Chilean Paralympic Committee (Copachi) President, Ricardo Elizalde,said:
"It is a very important step to get to know the 17 sports. In Lima (2019 Parapan) we participated in 10 disciplines and one of our objectives at Santiago 2023 is to increase the number of athletes and sports.
"At Copachi we have been working since 2013 on providing more and better opportunities for people with disabilities. That, for example, has led us to systematically increase the number of athletes in our last international participations and encourages us to have a record delegation at Santiago 2023.”
Since the first edition in Mexico City in 1999, with 1,000 Para athletes from 18 countries competing across four Para sports, the Parapan American Games have been growing steadily
The latest edition held at Lima in 2019 is regarded as the best ever, with over 1,800 Para athletes from 30 countries competing across 17 Para sports, and a record number of 170,000 fans following the competitions from the stands.
