Wheelchair fencing progresses to next stage of Paris 2024 inclusion

By the IPC and IWAS

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board has progressed 23 sports to the next stage of assessment for inclusion in the Paris 2024 Paralympic sport programme, including IWAS Wheelchair Fencing.

After a thorough review of applications from 28 sports for inclusion in Paris 2024, the sports that will proceed to the next stage are the 22 sports included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, together with CP Football.

Sports had until 9 July to complete application packs that featured a series of questions that gave the IPC detailed information regarding each sport’s governance, rules and regulations, anti-doping programme compliance and activities, worldwide reach, quadrennial competition programme and procedures to ensure athlete welfare.  Classification Code compliance was also assessed and the IPC considered the costs and complexity of operations on the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020 and the New Norm.

Golf, karate, Para dance sport, powerchair football and sailing will not be considered further for inclusion in Paris 2024 after failing to meet the inclusion criteria in a number of areas.

Following the Board’s decision, the IPC will now provide feedback to the remaining 23 sports and ask several of them for further information to be submitted by 3 December.  The IPC Governing Board will then decide on the final Paris 2024 Paralympic sport programme at its meeting in January.  Feedback will also be provided to the five sports that have been eliminated from the Paris 2024 race. 

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “I would like to congratulate the 23 sports that have reached the next stage of the process for inclusion in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.  At the same time I would like to pass on my commiserations to those sports that will not proceed further.  I hope these international federations take on board the feedback we will give them and are assured that the IPC will continue to work with them in the ongoing development of their sports.

“After reviewing all the applications it is clear that the level of competition to be included in the Paralympic programme is higher than ever before with all sports making progress since the last time we conducted this exercise four years ago for Tokyo 2020.

“We want the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to showcase the best possible Para sports with the strongest global appeal.  Following review of the further information we receive from international federations we will make our final decision on the number of sports and which sports are included in January once we have full agreement from the IOC and Paris 2024.”

Rudi Van Den Abbeele, IWAS President, said: “It is great news that wheelchair fencing has progressed to the next phase of inclusion for Paris 2024. It is an exciting, dynamic sport practised all around the world and we believe that it would continue to be an attractive part of the programme. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to show why.

“The application process has demonstrated the high standards required – and rightfully so – for sports to feature at a Paralympic Games. We are ready to answer any feedback or questions that the IPC Governing Board may now have for us.”