Today marks exactly one year to go to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, the first time that France will host the games since its inception in 1948.
After an action-packed summer which saw many Irish athletes competing at major world championships and qualifying the first slots for Team Ireland, the excitement for the games has started to build.
Speaking about the Paris 2024 games, Paralympics Ireland Sport Director and Chef de Mission for Paris 2024 Neasa Russell said, “The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be spectacular. Being trailed as the ‘revolutionary’ Games, the Games environment and experience will be second to none. I am confident that the Paris Games will provide a magnificent platform for Team Ireland to perform to our individual and collective potential.
The Paris 2024 mantra is ‘Games Wide Open’ and is proudly inclusive. We can absolutely leverage this spirit to ensure the Paralympic movement continues to grow and thrive here in Ireland too.
There is already great momentum and energy amongst our athletes, coaches, sport and performance support staff as we head into the 2024 season. I am really looking forward to continuing our positive collaborations with our partners and stakeholders who so generously support our ambitions.
The Paralympic Games are truly a pinnacle event where everyone brings their A game – Team Ireland will have an extraordinary opportunity to perform and transform in style at Paris 2024.”
Commenting on the major milestone Stephen McNamara, CEO of Paralympics Ireland said, “One year to go marks an exciting and important milestone and brings into focus the huge opportunity for our athletes and for everyone involved in Para sport. This year is all about putting into action the plans that have been built up over the proceeding years, with the goal to peak at the right time. The year will be one filled with highs, and indeed with some lows, but that is the beauty of sport, and what makes it so compelling.
The possibilities ahead are enormous; there is nothing yet written in the history books for Paris ’24 , and so, on behalf of everyone in Paralympics Ireland and our Board, I wish all our athletes the very best for the year ahead.”
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons believes Paris 2024 is on the course to deliver the most spectacular Paralympic Games in history.
He believes world class sport, iconic venues, a first Games since the pandemic, and a revolutionary approach by the Organising Committee, are the perfect ingredients to deliver a Paralympics that will surpass the achievements of any previous Games edition.
Andrew Parsons said: “As we reach the one year to go milestone, all the stars are aligning for Paris 2024 to deliver tremendous and memorable Paralympic Games, setting a benchmark for all future editions.
“The Organising Committee has promised innovative and revolutionary Paralympics, Games Wide Open to all. To date, they are delivering on all their promises and with 12 months to go I could not be more excited for the Games and the legacy they will deliver.
“Having attended many Para sport events this year, the level of sport performance is quite simply incredible. With the environment Paris 2024 is creating for athletes next summer, which includes many stunning sport venues at the heart of the city, I think the sporting action will surpass all of our expectations.
“These will be the first Paralympics in Europe since London 2012 and the first to be he held with spectators since Rio 2016. This combination, together with accessible and affordable tickets, will ensure we have massive crowds packing the venues, bringing the best out of our athletes. I think the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are going to be spectacular.”
Check out the full Paralympic events schedule here.
Learn more about the Paralympic venues here.
