Following the conclusion of the exciting 2024 Olympics just a few weeks ago, Paris, the capital of France, is now ready to host the Paralympics, starting on Thursday, August 29. This major event will run for eleven days, with 549 medals up for grabs. A total of 4,400 athletes from 128 countries, each with a disability, will participate in this historic competition.
The 17th Paralympics will kick off with an opening ceremony on the evening of August 28. Unlike the Olympic ceremony held on the Seine River, the Paralympics will have its opening at the Champs-Élysées. A “People’s Parade” will be held, visible to the public, and will culminate at the Place de la Concorde, the former site of the Olympic celebrations
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From there, the event will reach its climax with the lighting of the Paralympic torch. The 2024 Olympics utilized 35 different venues, 18 of which will be reused for the Paralympics. Iconic locations such as the Stade de France and La Défense Arena will once again host swimming and athletics events, while cycling will take place at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. The only event moved out of Paris is Para shooting, which will be held in Châteauroux.
Meanwhile, 225 athletes from the U.S. are set to compete in the Paralympics. Wheelchair basketball legend Steve Serio and sitting volleyball champion Nicky Nieves will carry the U.S. flag during the opening ceremony. Several top U.S. Para athletes, including Aaron Pike, swimmer Jessica Long, track and field star Brittni Mason, and swimmer Abbas Karimi, will also compete.
The first events of the Paralympics will begin on Thursday, August 29, with Para Badminton kicking off with Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles, and Women’s Singles group stages, followed by Para Table Tennis. Other events scheduled for August 29 include Para Swimming, Para Taekwondo, Para Shooting, Para Cycling, and Para Archery. Below is the complete schedule of the tournament, running from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
Schedule of Events
August 28
- Opening Ceremony
August 29
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Badminton
- Mixed Double Group Stage
- Men’s Single Group Stage
- Women’s Single Group Stage
- Para Cycling Track
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Taekwondo
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Rugby
August 30
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Badminton
- Para Cycling Track
- Para Rowing
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Taekwondo
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wheelchair Tennis
August 31
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Badminton
- Para Cycling Track
- Para Rowing
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Taekwondo
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 1
- Blind Football (soccer)
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Badminton
- Para Cycling Track
- Para Rowing
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Triathlon
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 2
- Blind Football (soccer)
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Badminton
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Triathlon
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 3
- Blind Football (soccer)
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Equestrian
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 4
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Cycling Road
- Para Equestrian
- Para Powerlifting
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 5
- Blind Football (soccer)
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Cycling Road
- Para Judo
- Para Powerlifting
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 6
- Para Athletics
- Para Canoe
- Para Cycling Road
- Para Equestrian
- Para Judo
- Para Powerlifting
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 7
- Blind Football (soccer)
- Para Athletics
- Para Canoe
- Para Cycling Road
- Para Equestrian
- Para Judo
- Para Powerlifting
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Tennis
September 8
- Para Athletics
- Para Canoe
- Para Powerlifting
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Closing Ceremony
