Destination Dubai for the 2024 Grand Prix season starter

Nine months have passed since our last World Para Athletics Grand Prix. 

But the wait is finally over, as some of the finest on the planet head to the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai 2024 Grand Prix – Fazza International Athletics Championships from Tuesday to Thursday (13 to 15 February)*. 

A hotbed for international meets and a regular stop on the circuit, the city will play host to 71 National Paralympic Committees aiming to begin a Paralympic Games year in spectacular fashion.

First stop on the road to Paris…and Kobe

In case you needed reminding, 2024 is a very special year for the World Para Athletics community. We mentioned earlier that it is a Paralympic Games year, but that is just the final destination and many months away. 

Because this May, we head to Kobe for the World Championships. With just under 100 days to go until the action begins, Dubai will act as an opportunity for athletes to gauge their own performances, while getting a look at the field around them. 

Will medal hopefuls be put under pressure by surprise competitors, or is this just their first journey towards a year they will never forget?

The stars are out

When you have a field of 573 athletes, you are bound to have some superstars in the mix. That is once again the case with the opening event of the season, with a strong blend of familiar faces and Games legends in amongst new and future icons of sport.

Greek sensation Athanasios Ghavelas claimed 100m T11 world glory in 2023 and will be on hand in Dubai to begin his year with a bang. The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist holds a world record time of 10.82 and has ambitions on bettering that at some point this season.

Anyone for two absolute legends of the sport? To that we say, Catherine Debrunner (T53) and Tatyana McFadden (T54). Between them they own a collective 28 World Championship medals and both are still absolutely at the top of their game, as proven by Debrunner’s four gold medals in Paris last year. They will both be going across the distances in search of beginning another illustrious year in the best manner.

Stand back, there’s a hurricane coming through. Hannah Cockroft (T34) is another who is confirmed for the action, with the multiple-time World and Paralympic gold medallist returning to the scene of her world record breaking triumphs last year. And when it comes to Great Britain greats, how about David Weir (T54)? He is another who is confirmed, and we cannot wait to see what the Weirwolf has in store. 

It is testament to the strength of the field that we have not even mentioned one of the finest to ever grace Para Athletics: Marcel Hug (T54). The Silver Bullet (had a typically sensational season in 2023, and he will be renewing another historic rivalry with the previously mentioned Weir.

Unsurprisingly it is the hosts who will have the biggest contingent, with 47 athletes destined to represent United Arab Emirates. There are also sizeable teams being sent by the likes of Algeria, Great Britain and Japan.

What are the stars looking forward to?

“I have been competing in these championships for eight years now. It’s always a good time to figure out where you are and where you need work on going forward. It's a Paralympic year so this comptition is an important one to start with," said British star Cockroft. 

"It’s a good track here and always promises a good combination of different countries, different competitors, so you always going to get a good race here. The event is well organised and so, we are confident that the races are going to be well run and it’s a good opportunity to go quick in a bright weather," she added.

 “The wheelchair races have become more competitive now with the technology and speed of the racers. I hope I can come up with a god timing here, a competition which I always enjoy participating. It’s going to be good races with a lot depending on how we tackle the wind," said Mohammed Alhammadi (T34), UAE's most successful Para athletics athlete with five Paralympic medals to his name.

A major milestone for Dubai

Our times in Dubai are always memorable. And that is why 2024 will mark the 11th consecutive year we have taken the action there, as the city has been part of the Grand Prix since the inaugural edition in 2013. 

Organised by the Dubai Club for People of Determination, the city has become a true staple and always throws huge moments our way. Whether it be the yearly Grand Prix events or World Championships such as the 2019 instalment, magic always follows.

How can you follow?

You can follow all of the action on YouTube. With four days of top-level competition, you won’t want to miss a second. 

Complete schedule and live results are available here.

Keep an eye across our social media channels to see the very best of the action from Dubai as it happens as well!

What comes after Dubai?

You won’t have to wait too long for the next Grand Prix as the season starts at an electric pace. From here we move to Tunisian capital Tunis on 5 March, followed by Jesolo, Italy just a couple of weeks later. Tis the season!

* The article was originally published on 11 February 2024 and updated on 13 February 2024 to reflect the postponement of the first day of competition from 12 February to 13 February due to weather conditions.