The 2024 Paralympic Games are set to commence in Paris, bringing together thousands of elite athletes from around the globe to compete in a variety of sports. The Games will begin with an outdoor opening ceremony on Wednesday and will continue until September 8.
Organizers anticipate this to be a historic event, with record participation from delegations, an increased number of female athletes, and extensive media coverage. This will be the first time France hosts the Summer Paralympic Games, and spectators will be allowed in the stands for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Over the course of 12 days, numerous storylines are expected to unfold, including China’s bid to maintain its dominance, a transgender woman representing Italy as the first in the history of the Paralympics, and Team USA athletes eager to set new records.
The Paralympics differ from the Olympics in that they include athletes with disabilities, organized by separate governing bodies. The term “Paralympic” derives from the Greek preposition “para,” meaning “beside,” indicating that the two events exist side-by-side.
This year, approximately 4,400 athletes from 168 nations will participate, with a notable representation of 1,983 female competitors. The Games will feature a total of 22 sports, including para athletics, para swimming, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball, among others. Events such as goalball and boccia have no Olympic equivalents.
Team USA is sending 225 athletes to compete, with equal representation of men and women, including prominent athletes like swimmer Jessica Long and wheelchair basketball star Steve Serio, who will serve as flag bearers. The U.S. team includes athletes from 38 states and boasts competitors of varying ages.
For those interested in watching, the opening ceremony will air live from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday on USA Network and is also available for streaming on Peacock. The Games will include extensive live coverage, with NBC offering a record 1,500 hours of programming, along with scheduled highlights throughout the event.
With the closing ceremony scheduled for September 8, the excitement around the Games looks to capture the attention of sports fans everywhere, keeping the spirit of competition alive until the next Winter Games in Milan in 2026.