Cover 4,400 Paralympians will compete in 22 sports at this year’s Paris Paralympic Games, the French capital’s first time hosting the event (Photo: Getty Images)
4,400 Paralympians will compete in 22 sports at this year’s Paris Paralympic Games, the French capital’s first time hosting the event (Photo: Getty Images)
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From running with a guide to using balls with bells, here are seven unique features of Paralympic sports to keep in mind when watching the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games
Around 4,400 para athletes will compete at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games across 22 categories of sports. Among them, 20 have Olympic counterparts (boccia and goalball are the only two exceptions), but changes have been made for the Paralympics stage to accommodate athletes’ disabilities.
To keep the competition fair, each sport has its own classification system to ensure that all athletes competing in the same category have similar functional abilities in terms of movement, coordination and balance. Here are seven sports to check out during the Paris Paralympics Games.
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1. Goalball
Above Goalball was designed for blind athletes, and players can detect the ball by listening to the bells inside it (Photo: Getty Images)
Goalball was designed for blind athletes, and players can detect the ball by listening to the bells inside it (Photo: Getty Images)
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Played exclusively by visually impaired or blind athletes with no Olympic equivalent, goalball is a competitive sport in which two teams score points by throwing a ball by hand and along the floor into the opponent’s goal. Each team’s net extends the whole width of their end of the 18m x 9m court and players keep to their half of the court, staying on their hands and knees to defend their nets. To help the players orient themselves, string is taped to the markings of the court. The ball is also made of rubber and has holes on its surface to allow the bells inside to be heard when the ball moves—similar to what’s used in blind football. Naturally, loud cheering from the crowd is discouraged as players need to hear the ball.
2. Boccia
Above Boccia athletes can throw or kick the ball and get as close to the jack as possible (Photo: Getty Images)
Above If needed, para athletes can also push the ball from a ramp after carefully giving directions to assistants to position and aim the device (Photo: Getty Images)
Boccia athletes can throw or kick the ball and get as close to the jack as possible (Photo: Getty Images)
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Boccia is a sport specifically tailored to players with cerebral palsy but also developed to include others with mobility issues. Without an Olympic counterpart, it is a game of control and precision where players launch a ball, aiming to land as close as possible to the “jack” ball. Depending on the classes, boccia athletes can kick or throw the ball or use a ramp to drop or push the ball, causing it to propel towards the jack. Quadriplegic players can direct assistants on how to position the ramp and push the ball using a head pointer or a stick in their mouths.
3. Para archery
Above Para archer Matt Stutzman of the USA drawing the arrow (Photo: Getty Images)
Para archer Matt Stutzman of the USA drawing the arrow (Photo: Getty Images)
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There are two categories for para archery: wheelchair and open. While para athletes competing in the wheelchair category retain some degree of arm strength, those in the open category may have more limited movements. Some para archers can use their mouths or feet to pull arrows. Depending on the type of bow used, para archers shoot the same distances as their Olympic counterparts—50m and 70m away from their targets.
4. Wheelchair basketball
Above In wheelchair basketball, para athletes shoot to the same hoop height as their Olympic counterparts (Photo: Getty Images)
In wheelchair basketball, para athletes shoot to the same hoop height as their Olympic counterparts (Photo: Getty Images)
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The standard hoop height in basketball is 3.05m, whether it is for the Olympics or the Paralympics. Wheelchair basketball players have to shoot standard hoops while manoeuvring around with sheer skill and practice.
In the Olympics, when a player catches the ball, they must dribble before taking a step (unless they pivot). Failing to do so results in a travelling violation. The equivalent of this in wheelchair basketball is that players may not push their wheels more than twice with the ball on their thighs before dribbling or passing it.
5. Wheelchair tennis
Above Aside from the allowed two bounces before having to hit the ball, wheelchair tennis is played with similar rules and court dimensions as its Olympic counterpart (Photo: Getty Images)
Aside from the allowed two bounces before having to hit the ball, wheelchair tennis is played with similar rules and court dimensions as its Olympic counterpart (Photo: Getty Images)
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Whereas in traditional tennis, the ball can only bounce once before the player needs to hit it, wheelchair tennis players can let the ball bounce twice—even if the second bounce is outside the court. Aside from this, para tennis players compete with the same tennis court dimensions as their Olympic counterparts with no adaptations to their rackets or tennis balls—or even the height of the net.
6. Para athletics
Above Those with vision impairment can choose to run with a guide who is tethered to them at their wrist and keeps them on track (Photo: Getty Images)
Those with vision impairment can choose to run with a guide who is tethered to them at their wrist and keeps them on track (Photo: Getty Images)
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Para athletes competing in vision impairment categories in para athletics can choose to run with a guide. Tethered by the hands or wrists, the guide helps the runner stay on course when running, while also relaying information about where other runners are or how close the finish line is. Guides have to be just as fast or faster than their para athletes and have to learn to match their running style. This means athletes usually have to find the right match during their training. In the end, if the athlete wins an event, their guide also receives a medal.
7. Sitting volleyball
Above In sitting volleyball, players cannot leave the sitting position and may slide around to get the ball (Photo: Getty Images)
In sitting volleyball, players cannot leave the sitting position and may slide around to get the ball (Photo: Getty Images)
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Played while sitting to accommodate mobility issues, Paralympians leave their wheelchairs to the side when entering the sitting volleyball court. With a lower net and smaller court dimensions, the sport requires players to be seated with their torso maintaining contact with the floor when playing the ball. Athletes move around by sliding but they must not leave the sitting position. Each team has six players and is allowed three touches of the ball before having to send it across the net.
Khoa Tran is Social Impact Editor at Tatler Hong Kong. He covers stories touching on sustainability, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and diversity. Trained as a lawyer, Khoa’s work as a writer had previously touched up topics such as regulatory compliance, ESG, and banking. Outside of the office, he enjoys rock climbing and relaxing in jazz clubs.
