As we get closer to the 2024 Paralympic Games, Leon discusses the important events for athletes with disabilities who want to qualify for the Games
April 16 marked 500 days to go to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The qualification process has started in earnest for this sporting spectacle for athletes with disabilities.
Various sporting codes have had their 2023 National Championships already and the athletes are trying to qualify for this year’s World Championships (8 – 17 July 2023), which for some sports are major qualifications for the Paris Games.
The two standout Para Sports events this year are the World Para Athletics Championships being held in Paris, France, in July, the World Para Swimming Championships being held in Manchester, England, in August and the inaugural Africa Para Games being held in Accra, Ghana, in September this year.
Wheelchair Basketball hosted the men’s zonal qualifications for the African Para Games at the Vodacom Mandeville Indoor Sport Centre in early April with South Africa and Angola men’s teams qualifying for Ghana where the winner of the African Para Games will be the Africa representative at next year’s Paralympic Games. Good luck to our boys!
I recently visited Paris to see the village and some venues and I must say that Paris is going to be a special games with a legacy of making Paris a lot more accessible to people with disabilities.
The year is young and we will be seeing our athletes participating more over the coming months so let’s start getting ready to get behind our heroes and upcoming heroes as they strive to be excellent ambassadors and inspire the world through their achievements!
