The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed that the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sports programme will remain the same as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics with 22 sports included.
The IPC Governing Board’s decision was taken at a meeting in London on Friday (25 January).
Wheelchair basketball will be one of the 22 sports that will be included alongside; athletics, archery, badminton, blind football, boccia, canoe, cycling, equestrian, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
IWBF’s President, Ulf Mehrens said, “We’re very proud to have been confirmed on the sport programme for Paris 2024, given the sport’s pedigree and it’s ever growing popularity, it’s key that it remains a staple sport at the Paralympic Games.”
To ensure wheelchair basketball continued to feature at the Paralympic Games, IWBF completed an in-depth assessment and had to meet IPC’s standards demanded of the sports within the Paralympic Movement. It was assessed on governance, rules and regulations, anti-doping programme compliance and activities, worldwide reach, Classification Code compliance and quadrennial competition programme.
IWBF’s Secretary General, Norbert Kucera, said “Over the past 15 months we have worked hard to ensure that wheelchair basketball met all the requirements of the IPC application process, and I am delighted this hard work has paid off and we will once again see wheelchair basketball at the Paralympic Games. I would like to thank all those in the wheelchair basketball community who have assisted in the process and continue to support the sport.”
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “I would like to send my warmest congratulations to the 22 sports that will form part of a mouth-watering Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sport programme.
“I think the final Paris 2024 programme is extremely attractive and exciting. It features 22 Para sports that have strong global appeal, support gender balance and offer athletes with a wide range of impairments - including those with high support needs - opportunities to compete on the biggest stage of all in the French capital.
“The IPC reviewed 23 strong bids and all 23 sports were viable for inclusion in the Games, which underlines the growing strength of the Paralympic Movement.
Wheelchair basketball was one of the eight sports that were part of the first Paralympic Games in 1960, and has been on the Paralympic programme ever since, with its popularity continuing to increase.
Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 President, said: “We welcome the IPC Governing Board’s decision on the Paralympic Games sport programme. This a key moment in our journey towards the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We congratulate the IPC and the International Federations who took part in the process and look forward to developing with them an event programme that will dazzle the world in 2024 and showcase Paralympic sports like never before. This is only the beginning. The next step is to finalise the venue master plan and ensure Paris delivers on its promise to offer the most breathtaking and innovative stage for Paralympians to excite the world.”
