By: Ivan Wang

Para-climbing will make its debut at the 2028 Paralympics that will be hosted in Los Angeles. This means that the next Paralympics will include a total of 23 sports. The introduction of para-climbing follows the introduction of climbing at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.

Para-climbing is essentially climbing, but it’s for those who are disabled. International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons says that,”Para-claiming is a fast-paced, exhilarating sport that I am sure will attract new audiences to the Paralympic Games”.

The process for adding new sports to the Paralympics goes as follows:The organizing committee of the Paralympic Games has the opportunity to suggest 1 or more events to the International Paralympic Committee. Then they decide whether to accept the event or reject it.

Instead of getting Para-climbing we could have possibly instead of gotten Para-surfing, as the committee for the 2028 Los Angeles had to choose between the two.

Para-surfing is the fifth sport to be added within the last 12 years; However, the 2028 committee is the first to ever request that another sport be added to the Paralympics.

Marco Scolaris, the president of the International Federation of Sport Climbing, says in response to Para-climbing being added to the Paralympics,”Thank you to the IPC for welcoming us as part of the Paralympic family, but thanks must also go to the LA28 Organising committee for believing in our sport,”.

Sources Used:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cyx54elqew5o