The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris Are Finally Here: Here’s What to Know and a Day-By-Day Schedule
Over 4,400 athletes are set to compete in 22 sports from 167 countries, with 549 medal events
It’s time to go back to Paris! Viewers got their first fix of amazing sporting events thanks to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and are getting ready for another impressive showcase. The 2024 Paralympic Games are set to begin August 28 and will last through September 8. With over 4,400 athletes competing in 22 sports from 167 countries, the 11-day event promises to be one of the largest Paralympics yet.
The Games will be hosted at 20 iconic venues across Paris and its surrounding areas, including the Eiffel Tower, Roland-Garros and the Grand Palais. This marks the first time France has hosted a Summer Paralympics Games. Here’s everything you need to know about the Paralympics schedule and the events we’re watching.
An overview of the 2024 Paralympic Games
The opening ceremony will take place for the first time in Paralympics history outside a stadium along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées on Wednesday, August 28, from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
You can watch the Paralympics live coverage on USA Network, or stream on Peacock and NBC Olympics platforms. The closing ceremony will take place on Sunday, September 8, at 2 p.m. ET.
What are the Paralympic Games events and sports?
Here are all the registered sports to watch. Notably, there are two which do not have an Olympic equivalent, goalball and boccia.
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Badminton
- Blind Football (soccer)
- Boccia
- Para Canoe
- Para Cycling
- Para Equestrian
- Goalball
- Para Judo
- Para Powerlifting
- Para Rowing
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Taekwondo
- Para Triathlon
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wheelchair Tennis
Team USA will have a strong presence, with 225 athletes representing the United States . In Tokyo in 2020, they secured 104 medals. Para swimmer Jessica Long, who already has 16 Paralympic gold medals, and multi-sport stars Oksana Masters and Tatyana McFadden, will be key figures to watch. The U.S. is also expected to excel in wheelchair basketball, swimming and track and field, where they have traditionally been dominant.
A breakdown of the 2024 Paralympic Games schedule
Here’s a general overview of the schedule, including key events you won’t want to miss. For more detailed scheduling, you can visit the official Paralympics website.
August 29: Day 1
The competition begins with a bang with 11 sports competing on the first day. Medals will be awarded in Para swimming, Para-cycling (track) and Para-taekwondo. Wheelchair rugby, one of the most thrilling events, also starts on this day, with the U.S. looking to avenge their second-place finish at Tokyo 2021.
Men’s wheelchair basketball also starts on Thursday, so look out for early matches of U.S. teams against Germany and Japan.
August 30: Day 2
Para-athletics and Para-swimming continue, with notable events in track and field at the Stade de France. Blind football begins at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, where Brazil will defend their unbeaten record since 2004.
Archery also begins Friday, where India’s Sheetal Devi, only 17, is the world No 1. She will make history as the first female para-archer without arms to compete internationally.
August 31 – September 1: Days 3 and 4
The first weekend is packed with 16 sports. Para-rowing and Para-canoe take center stage at Vaires-sur-Marne, while Para equestrian events unfold in the gardens of the Château de Versailles.
Wheelchair tennis also begins at Roland Garros, and the first day of the Para-triathlon is held in central Paris, starting from the Seine River.
September 2 – 6: Days 5 to 9
The midweek events feature Para-cycling road races starting from Clichy-sous-Bois, and more action in wheelchair basketball, Para-judo and Para-table tennis. Para-swimming and Para-athletics continue, with numerous finals scheduled. You can also see the men’s gold medal match in boccia and the finals in several track and field events, including the men’s 100m and women’s long jump, on September 2.
On September 4, the men’s and women’s semifinals in goalball take place, along with wheelchair rugby semi final matches. September 5 marks the final events in para-swimming. And get ready for September 6, which features thrilling track events, including the men’s marathon. Then, finals in wheelchair fencing and para-archery.
September 7 – 8: Days 10 and 11
The closing weekend features a showdown in Para-judo at Champ de Mars and wheelchair fencing under the dome of the Grand Palais. And be sure to watch the wheelchair basketball gold medal match for the U.S. men’s team. This would be their third consecutive gold win. The women’s team gold medal match will be on Sunday.
The Games conclude with the Para-athletics marathon, which covers the entire Champs-Elysées, and the Closing Ceremony.
Catch up on the Olympic games below:
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