The 2024 Summer Paralympic Games will take place in Paris, France, from Wednesday, August 28 until Sunday, September 8.
More than 4,000 athletes will compete from more than 150 countries, including American Samoa, Chad, Guam, Kiribati, Kosovo, Palau, South Sudan, and Tuvalu who will all make their Paralympic debut in Paris.
Australia is sending 138 para-athletes who will compete in events held at 20 sporting venues in Paris and its surrounding suburbs including the likes of Clichy-sous-Bois, La Courneuve, Versailles, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and Vaires-sur-Marne.
The shooting is the only event to be held outside the French capital and will take place in Châteauroux, south of Paris.
When is the Paris 2024 Paralympic Opening Ceremony?
At approximately 4am AEST (8pm Paris local time), on August 29th, the Paralympic Opening Ceremony will commence.
Taking place along the Champs-Elysées all the way to the iconic Place de la Concorde plaza, the ceremony has been described as “the first of its kind” and a “spectacle that will transform the heart of Paris” and “showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values they embody.”
Much like the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this will be the first Paralympic Opening Ceremony to take place outside a stadium.
When is the Paris 2024 Paralympic Closing Ceremony?
On September 9th at approximately 4am AEST (8pm Paris local time), the Closing Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will commence, marking the official handover to Los Angeles, the host city of the Paralympics in 2028.
The Closing Ceremony is expected to serve as a final opportunity for Paris to celebrate Paralympic athletes and their awe-inspiring performances.
What sports will be featured at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games?
The Paralympic program features 23 sports. These include:
- Blind football – Australia will not compete
- Boccia
- Goalball – Australia will not compete
- Para archery
- Para-athletics
- Para badminton
- Para canoe
- Para-cycling road
- Para-cycling track
- Para equestrian (para-dressage)
- Para judo
- Para powerlifting
- Para rowing
- Para-swimming
- Para table tennis
- Para taekwondo – Australia will not compete
- Para triathlon
- Shooting Para sport
- Sitting volleyball – Australia will not compete
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair fencing – Australia will not compete
- Wheelchair Rugby AND
- Wheelchair tennis
Who are the flag bearers for Australia at the Paris 2024 Paralympics?
In mid-July, 2024, Paralympics Australia confirmed which para-athletes would share the honour of being flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony on August 28.
It was no huge surprise when track and field star Madison de Rozario and accomplished swimmer Brenden Hall were named.
After making her Paralympic debut at the tender age of 14 in 2008, Madison has gone on to represent Australia a further three (soon to be four) times, winning two gold medals, three silver, and a bronze.
She described being a flag-bearer for her country as a dream come true: “To get to march out into the stadium representing that team, that’s all I want to do and that’s all we do as individuals, in the green and gold, competing.”
Brenden is also a Paralympic veteran, having won a gold, silver, and bronze medal across four (soon to be five) Paralympic Games.
He said he was “over the bloody moon” to carry the Australian flag alongside Madison.
“I’ve always looked up to the athletes that get up there and carry the flag out there for us. Not once, in my mind, did I ever think I’d reach that status. To be in amongst such an awe-inspiring legendary status crowd is amazing.”
“Hopefully I can make our team proud, our country proud, family and friends…There’s an immense amount of pride being able to represent Australia, so being asked to carry the flag, I’m over the bloody moon,” he added.
Where can I watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Australia?
Much like the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Australians will be able to watch the Paralympics on Channel 9 as well as 9GEM, with round-the-clock coverage 24 hours a day.
Stan will also stream all 549 events from 23 sports across the Paris Paralympics ad-free, live, and on-demand for the first time ever across 20 dedicated individual sports channels.
It is worth noting that there is a time difference between Australia and Paris:
- Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): 8 hours ahead of Paris
- Australian Central Standard Time (ACST): 7.5 hours ahead of Paris
- Australian Western Standard Time (AWST): 6 hours ahead of Paris
Where will the next Paralympic Games be held?
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed the host cities for the 2026 Winter Paralympics, 2028 Paralympics, 2030 Winter Paralympics, 2032 Paralympics, and 2034 Winter Paralympics.
They are as follows:
- 2026: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
- 2028: Los Angeles, USA
- 2030: French Alps, France
- 2032: Brisbane, Australia
- 2034: Salt Lake City, USA
