Andrew Parsons re-elected IPC President for third term

Andrew Parsons re-elected IPC President for third term

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IPC General Assembly decision on NPC Belarus and NPC Russia

IPC General Assembly decision on NPC Belarus and NPC Russia

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IPC launches new impact strategy to drive global disability inclusion

IPC launches new impact strategy to drive global disability inclusion

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Paralympic Order presented to three outstanding recipients

Paralympic Order presented to three outstanding recipients

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TOP STORIES

🌟🇮🇳 Praveen Kumar: Meet one of India’s biggest Paralympic stars

🌟🇮🇳 Praveen Kumar: Meet one of India’s biggest Paralympic stars

Praveen Kumar, a Para athlete from India, began his high jump journey in 2019 with the support of his coach. In just a few years, he soared from 1.74m at the Junior World Championships in Switzerland 🇨🇭 to an incredible 2.07m at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics 🇯🇵. His rapid rise in Para athletics is a story of talent, dedication, and emotional triumph. Praveen’s first medal brought tears and a heartfelt hug with his coach. He credits Para sport for boosting his motivation and self-confidence, and sees it as a powerful opportunity for people with disabilities. 💬 “When I look at the crowd, I feel stronger.”

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A swimmer in action

Singapore 2025: Three closing-day gold help Italy finish on top again

The Azzurri top the overall medal table thanks to the efforts of their stars Simone Barlaam, Monica Boggioni and Gabriele Lorenzo on the final day as they finish on 46 medals, including 18 golds ahead of USA (18) and China (17). Turkiye’s Defne Kurt finishes off an impressive first Worlds with five gold, Czechia’s 17-year-old David Kratochvil made it a memorable Worlds with podium in all seven events he competed, and Great Britain's Poppy Maskill claims her third world title on final day in Singapore.

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A vision impaired athlete reacts after her race

New Delhi 2025: Mamani Quispe strikes historic gold for Peru as records tumble

The 27-year-old from Cusco, Peru, wins the women’s 1500m T11 final in style; Swiss wheelchair racing giants Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner retain 5000m T54 titles; Norway’s Salum Ageze Kashafali sets a world record en route to winning men’s 100m T12 gold even as Brazil (3), China (3) and Ukraine (2) take the top three spots in medal standings on day two of IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.

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TO THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE Milano Cortina 2026 PARALYMPIC GAMES

06 - 15 Mar 2026

TO THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LA28 PARALYMPIC GAMES

15 - 27 Aug 2028
About the Paralympic Games

About the Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are the largest global sporting event for athletes with disabilities and have taken place every four years since the inaugural edition in Rome, Italy, in 1960. In 1976, the first Winter Games were held in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden and featured 198 athletes from 16 countries.

Following the 1988 Games in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and the Winter Games in Albertville, France in 1992, the Paralympic and Olympic Games have been held in the same city. The next Paralympic Games will be held in LA in 2028 followed by Brisbane in 2032. The next winter edition is Milano Cortina 2026 with the French Alps to follow in 2030 and Salt Lake City in 2034.

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About the IPC

About the IPC

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. Founded on 22 September 1989 as a non-profit organisation, we aim to be athlete-centred and membership-focussed in all our endeavours.

Through partnerships with more than 200 member organisations, we leverage Para sport to advance the lives of the 1.2 billion individuals with disabilities across the globe.

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Paralympics history

Paralympics history

Sport for athletes with an impairment has existed for more than 100 years. It was not until after World War II, however, that it was widely introduced. The purpose of it at that time was to assist the large number of war veterans and civilians who had been injured during wartime.

On 29 July 1948, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organised a competition for wheelchair athletes at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Great Britain. Sixteen injured servicemen and women took part in archery at the inaugural Stoke Mandeville Games, which later became the Paralympic Games.

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What is classification?

What is classification?

Classification is the cornerstone of the Paralympic Movement; it determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition. In Para sports, athletes are grouped by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment. This, to a certain extent, is similar to grouping athletes by age, gender or weight.

Classification aims to minimise the impact of the impairment on athletes' performance so that the sporting excellence determines which athlete or team is ultimately victorious. Ensuring that athletes are classified prior to competing is crucial to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the competition.

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What are the Paralympic sports?

What are the Paralympic sports?

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognises a total of 28 Paralympic sports. The 22 summer sports are Para archery, Para athletics, Para badminton, blind football, 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, and wheelchair tennis.

Winter sports include Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.

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Worldwide Paralympic Partners

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

  • Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community
  • Staatskanzlei Des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
  • Freude, Joy, Joie, Bonn