Our Australian athletes are one week away from taking the world stage at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Up to 4,400 athletes from around the world will be competing in 549 medal events across 22 sports.
Our Aussie athletes will compete in 17 events which include: Boccia, Goalball and Sitting Volleyball. There are many more exciting events which you can find in the Paralympic Schedule.
Australia has competed at every Paralympic Games since the first in Rome in 1960. In Paris, 160 athletes will represent Australia, including:
- 61 debutants
- 99 returning Paralympians, with Danni Di Toros competing in her 8th Paralympics
- 4 Indigenous athletes; Samantha Schmidt, Ruby Storm, Amanda Reid and Telaya Blacksmith.
About the Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony will take place on Wednesday 28 August at 8pm Paris local time. In Australia, viewers can tune in on Thursday 29 August at 4am AEST. In a Paralympic Games first, the opening ceremony will occur outside a stadium at the Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde. Paralympic champions Madison de Rozario and Brenden Hall will carry the Australian flag.
What to expect at the 2024 Paralympic Games
It will also be the first time France has hosted the summer Paralympic Games. Events will be held at many iconic locations including:
- Grand Palais - fencing and taekwondo
- Eiffel Tower Stadium - blind football
- Château de Versailles - equestrian events in the gardens
- Roland Garros Stadium - tennis.
All athletes competing in the Paralympic Games have different impairments. Athletes with similar impairments compete together so that the race or event is fair, and no one has an unfair advantage. Learn more about the classifications.
Greenwood going for Gold in Paris
Canberra based swimmer Jasmine Greenwood is excited to be headed to Paris for her second Paralympic games.
At just 14 years old, Jasmine was the youngest member of Australia's Paralympics team at Tokyo 2020. The teenager won a silver medal in the women's 100 metres butterfly and is looking to go one better in Paris. Ms Greenwood is also competing in S10 50 metres freestyle, S10 100 metres backstroke and SM10 100 metres individual medley. But aside from competing for gold international competitions, Ms Greenwood enjoys how swimming has impacted her life outside of the pool.
"One thing that I love about swimming is the way that is has given me so many friendships and amazing opportunities and shaped my life into what it is today," Ms Greenwood said.
The Paralympics highlight incredible athletes with disabilities. They also inspire us all to embrace physical activity as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. Read about the physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians.
While cheering on our Australian athletes in Paris, we'll also be looking ahead to hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Australia. We look forward to seeing what highlights we witness in 2032.
