Grand Prix 2024: Step two, to Tunis!

This week it’s the turn of Tunis to become the host of the second Grand Prix of the season from 5 to 7 March (Tuesday to Thursday), as some of the finest on the planet take the next step in a monumental 2024. 

How do you build on Dubai success?

It’s the big question ahead of this week. Forty-two nations will be hoping to take control of this Grand Prix after a Dubai GP that saw some of the greats of the Para Athletics world add more success to their never-ending list of accolades.

A total of 353 athletes are set to compete, but there could be a much more open field this time with a number of top stars from Dubai not signed up to compete this time around. 

Instead, strong contingents from nations including hosts Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Algeria will all have ambitions on taking the titles and the headlines from the Olympic Athletics Stadium. And with this comes the prospect of new big names taking to the world stage like never before, intent on making themselves known ahead of a massive next nine months.

A major stop on the way to Kobe

We have mentioned this before and we will mention it again now: 2024 is a huge year for Para Athletics. 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan is just over two months away and then in August it will be time for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. 

There are some established names using Tunis as a huge measuring stick for themselves ahead of Kobe too. European gold medallist Emanuele Di Marino (T44) is the only representative of Italy, but will be treating this as a good indicator for what is to come.

For the hosts, understandably they have a team that has talent in abundance. Icons including shot put and discus throw F41 Tokyo champion Raoua Tlili, reigning 100m and 800m T34 Paralympic champion Walid Ktila and two-time Paralympic medallist Rouay Jebabli (T12) are just three from a 50-strong selection they will be counting upon. 

All three grabbed gold medals at last year's World Championships in Paris (two for Tlili and Jebabli, one for Ktila).

So will a strong Moroccan team that included greats of Tokyo 2020. Their shot put F33 gold medallist Zakarie Derham will compete in Tunis alongside 400m T12 champion Abdeslam Hili and 400m T47 winner Ayoub Sadni.

How can you follow?

Complete results and livestreaming will be available on the Local Organising Committee page. With three days of top-level competition, you won’t want to miss a second. 

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

What comes after Tunis?

The action is coming thick and fast! From Tunis we’ll turn our attentions to the familiar sights and scenery of Jesolo, Italy in around two weeks. 

After that it’s to Xalapa, Mexico before returning to Africa for the Marrakech GP in Morocco.