Paris 2024 is just days away, athletes are arriving in the Paralympic Village and the European and global Para sport community is gearing-up for what is expected to be an exceptional Paralympic Games hosted once again in the region from 28 August – 8 September.
A total of 4,400 athletes from 168 delegations – including a refugee team - will compete in 22 sports and 549 medal events. More than 40 European countries are expected to feature.
Several landmark announcements have been made by the International Paralympic Committee relating to livestreaming on YouTube and social media coverage, particularly for TikTok users, whilst the Games have already had a positive impact on French society before the flame was even lit. Find out how to watch the Paralympics.
Tickets are also still available – but not many – with some sports already sold out. Get yours now to ensure you do not miss your chance to be part of history at Paris 2024.
Europe’s successful Paralympic history
Europe has historically been the strongest region in the history of the Paralympic Games.
Five countries – Great Britain, Poland, Paris 2024 hosts France, The Netherlands and Sweden – feature in the top 10 of the all-time medals table.
Three athletes from France (Beatrice Hess), Great Britain (Sarah Storey) and Israel (Zipora Rubin-Rosenbaum) are all amongst the most decorated Paralympians of all-time.
Storey is still competing and will be in Paris trying to add to her incredible 28 medals – including 17 golds – in Paris to perhaps improve on her third place in the overall medals table.
Sarah Storey won three golds on the track and road at Tokyo 2020. Credit: OIS Photos
At the last edition, Tokyo 2020, a total of 37 European countries won at least one medal with five current European Paralympic Committee Members making it into the top 10.
Great Britain finished second with The Netherlands and Ukraine fifth and sixth respectively. Italy and Azerbaijan were ninth and tenth.
An impressive 49.5 per cent of the 1668 medals awarded were won by European countries.
Forty-five per cent of all golds, 49 per cent of silvers and 55 per cent of bronze medals were claimed by athletes from Europe.
Storey and players such as Diede de Groot of The Netherlands were the most successful in their sports, leading track and road cycling and wheelchair tennis to be the most successful sports for the region.
Ukrainian swimmer Maksym Krypak headlined them all with an impressive haul of seven medals (five golds) from the pool. Swiss Silver Bullet Marcel Hug was the third most decorated Paralympian from Tokyo 2020 with track four golds. He will aim to add yet more to his haul of 12 won over the two decades since his debut at Athens 2004.
There will also be many debuts in Paris, but one in particular stands out. Grevist Bytyçi will make history for Kosovo as the country enters a Paralympic Games for the first time.
Going viral
The European Paralympic Committee has attracted attention on social media by sharing stories, videos and updates of athletes and from its Members.
In the last few months @Europaralympic accounts have reached more than 80 million people on Instagram and TikTok with LinkedIn, Facebook and X content also contributing to a wide reach.
The build-up to Paris 2024 has featured several viral videos and sport explainer videos, collaborating with athletes and International and Regional Federations to help ensure the greatest exposure possible for competitors and all 22 Paralympic sports.
Daily coverage, collaborations and stories from Paris 2024 will begin on 28 August with the Opening Ceremony and continue every day until the Closing Ceremony on 8 September.
Greater Games
On 4 September, the European Paralympic Committee will host European House: Greater Games at TeamNL House, co-hosted by seven-time Paralympic medallist and Chair of the regional Athletes’ Council, Markus Salcher.
Since 2011 in Brna, Czechia, the European Paralympic Committee has staged the European Para Youth Games.
At the last edition in Pajulahti, Finland, just over 1,000 athletes, coaches, officials, classifiers and volunteers took part in eight sports.
European House will delve into the detail of the European Paralympic Committee’s strategy to build from these foundations and refresh and renew the European Para Youth Games, making it the place to grow, aspire and play for athletes, Members, sports, organisers and partners, including those with an interest in a winter edition.
European House: Greater Games will bring together more than 100 representatives of National Paralympic Committees, International and Regional Federations, International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled and current or potential partners.
Here, exclusive first details about the sport programme, dates and legacy of the next edition of the European Para Youth Games in Istanbul, Türkiye and the ethos of the European Para Youth Games itself will be revealed. This includes how the new European Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council are helping to ensure that summer and winter athletes are placed at the centre of the Games calendar.
The day will also feature an appearance from the founders and organisers of the European Para Championships. They will reflect on the ground-breaking first edition in 2023 and look ahead to the next editions with the European Paralympic Committee continuing its patronage. Guests will have the opportunity to watch an exclusive screening of Aim High, Dream Big, the official documentary of 2023, during the evening programme of TeamNL House.
Comments