Para-climbing to make its debut at LA Paralympics

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have announced that the Paralympics in Los Angeles 2028 will now feature Para-climbing.

Climbing made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and remains part of the programme for Paris 2024. The popularity of the sport prompted game organisers of the LA28 to put forward Para-climbing for potential inclusion ahead of Para-surfacing.

Following this, the IPC voted in favour of the add-on of the sport on Wednesday, meaning 28 spots overall will be contested when the games begin in four years’ time.

Andrew Parsons, President of the IPC, said: ‘Para-climbing is a fast-paced, exhilarating sport that I am sure will attract new audiences to the Paralympic Games. You only have to see the sport’s impact on the Olympic Games programme to understand this.’

Para-climbing is the fifth new sport to be added to the Paralympics within the last 12 years, but the LA 2028 team is the first organising committee to propose an additional sport.

‘Thank you to the PIC for welcoming us as part of the Paralympic family, but thanks must also go to LA28 organising committee for believing in our sport and making history for the both of us,’ Marco Scolaris, President of the International Federation of Sport Climbing said.

‘By proposing climbing as an additional sport they have given us another opportunity to fulfil our purpose – to make the world a better place through climbing. All of our Para athletes do this every day, and now they can do it on the world stage for all to see at the Paralympic Games.’

Image: yns plt

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