Paris 2024 Paralympics | Record number of delegations, best percentage of women represented... another step towards parity

This Friday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) unveiled new figures making Paris 2024 a new benchmark in terms of gender parity. As with the Olympic Games, more and more women will be taking part, despite an even higher number of participants.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are taking women's sport into a new dimension! Among the 4,400 athletes competing in 22 sports, there will be 1,983 women competing in the French capital. By way of comparison, this represents 45% of the total number of competitors, beating the previous record set at Tokyo 2020 (42% with 1,846 women out of 4,393 athletes). This is more than double the number at Sydney 2000 (when 988 female athletes came to Australia).

Over and above the percentage, women will be taking part in 235 of the 549 medal events on the program. That's eight more than in Tokyo 2020.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, is delighted: “Since 2016, the IPC has invested millions of euros each year in Paralympic sport development programs with our member organizations, with a real focus on increasing female participation at all levels. These efforts, combined with the exceptional work of our National Paralympic Committees and international federations, are beginning to bear fruit and are delivering record results.”

Among the Para sports, Para equestrian (61 women for 17 men) and Para powerlifting (90 women for 89 men) will have more female participants at Paris 2024. Para badminton, Goalball, Para rowing and Wheelchair basketball have absolute parity.

A new record number of participating delegations

If, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, 164 delegations took part in the competitions, Paris 2024 has done even better. In total, among the 4,400 athletes, 168 National Paralympic Committees (including the Paralympic Refugee Team) will be taking part.

In addition, three new delegations will be making their debut at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: Eritrea, Kiribati and Kosovo.

“The IPC constantly strives to engage with its members to advance the Paralympic Movement, and achieving both a record number of competing delegations and female athletes for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is fantastic news. We must pay tribute to our NPCs and international federations for their outstanding efforts, especially the three NPCs that will be making their Paralympic debuts in the French capital,” supports Andrew Parsons.

“The most impressive thing is that at the same time as the number of participating delegations has increased, the number of female athletes and the quality of sport and competition has also increased. I am convinced that Paris 2024 will be the best edition of the Paralympic Games in terms of athletic performance and level of competition in all 22 sports,” concludes the President of the International Paralympic Committee.

Tickets are available on the official Paris 2024 Games box office. For the return match after the Olympic Games, take advantage of the opportunity and treat yourself to a second dose of happiness and thrills with tickets starting at 15 euros!