Para Athletics Worlds open door to more Para sports fans a year before Paris 2024

Courtney Humphreys travelled over 10,000 kilometres to watch the Para Athletics World Championships. She has been an avid Paralympic fan for about five years and made a stop in France during a family trip to watch the action. 

Humphreys, who travelled from Australia in a group of 14, including seven children, was thrilled to support Para athletes from the stands at Charlety Stadium.  

“I love it, it is awesome. The kids loved yelling and supporting the athletes. They want to go back to the hotel to make signs,” she said. “The Aussies are competitive and they are really good. 

“Also the sportsmanship is very beautiful and it’s been very cool to watch. The love, care and the happiness that athletes have for their competitors is beautiful.” 

For many local spectators, the 10-day event opened the door to the attractions of Para sport, about 13 months before the opening of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. 

Opening a new door 

Noel Bissouma was in the stands at the Charlety Stadium with his two sons. It was his first time watching a Para sport event in person. 

He saw Ecuador’s Kiara Rodriguez leap 6.23m to capture the gold medal in the women’s long jump T47 with a world record, finishing ahead of two-time Paralympic champion Anna Grimaldi of New Zealand.  

The packed session also included heats of the universal 4x100m relay, which featured male and female Para athletes in different sport categories.  

“I came because I wanted to find out what Para athletics is like. It was also a nice place to spend time with my sons,” said Bissouma, who lives in Paris. “I loved the long jump and the 4x100 relay, and my sons were very excited to watch sport. 

“The World Championships were evidence that sport is inclusive. It was great to watch athletes with different types of impairment competing. I’m very excited about the Paralympics coming next year.” 

Asked what he liked about Para athletics, Bissouma’s six-year-old son said, “I liked the long jump and the race with the wheelchair because athletes were fast.” 

Party in Paris 

The easiest way to learn about Para sports is to watch competition. And it is always more fun when you watch the action live in the venue.  

Concerts were held in between competition, creating a party atmosphere before the spotlight moved onto the athletes. The crowd exploded when French competitors were in action - the biggest cheers reserved for those from the host nation.  

“We came to watch the French team,” said Oriane Vialle Guerin, also from Paris.  

“It was my first time coming to watch Paralympic sports. It’s really nice to discover sports in a different way, to see how athletes compete and organise themselves, like in the universal relay.” 

“It’s great to see their amazing performance even with their different disabilities.” 

Alexandre Bas, who watched the morning action with Vialle Guerin and his sister, said, “We will definitely try to come to the Paralympics and would love to watch it.” 

Sitting a few seats away were Gregory Saint-Andre and his 10-year-old son Nolan. “My son wanted to come because both of us are doing athletics. We are runners,” the father said. 

“At the tournament, I learned that there are different categories for athletes with disabilities. The competition was exciting. Of course, I want to recommend (watching Para sports) to my friends.” 

Athletes in the spotlight 

Humphreys, who watched several events in Paris during her family trip, said she has been following the sport since her mother worked with Para athletes in Australia. 

“That brought attention and awareness. We’ve loved Para athletics ever since. I find the community very beautiful and encompassing,” she said.  

“With Para athletics, we celebrate everything, not just winning. Even watching the guides run, it’s very special.” 

For athletes, having a vocal crowd gives them extra energy during competition, according to USA's 20-time Paralympic medallist Tatyana McFadden.  

“I think coming off of COVID, fans are really excited. It was really nice to have a crowd come out,” she said. 

“I think people really want to watch athletics. I love the crowd. I think it brings so much more energy. It’s really nice to have a crowd cheering you on and everyone on. They get really excited and they cheer for everyone.” 

Check out the action from Paris 23 via the Paralympics YouTube and Facebook, plus results on the World Para Athletics website.