International Paralympic Committee Approves Climbing as New Sport for 2028 Paralympic Games
The Board of Directors of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has approved a proposal from the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee to include climbing in the competitive program of the Paralympic Games.
This decision brings the total number of sports in the Los Angeles Paralympic Games to 23, including the 22 sports initially approved by the IPC in January 2023 and climbing, which will make its Paralympic debut in 2028.
According to the IPC Manual, an Organizing Committee of the respective Paralympic Games may propose to the IPC one or more additional events in new sports, the inclusion of which is at the absolute discretion of the IPC Governing Council.
The Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee had evaluated a record number of 33 sports that submitted applications to be included in the Paralympic Games. After an extensive evaluation process, the IPC approved 22 sports in January 2023 and gave the Organizing Committee the opportunity to include climbing or surfing, sports that had not previously appeared in the Paralympic Games.
The evaluation criteria used to evaluate sports disciplines and possible new sports for the 2028 Olympic Games were similar to those used by the Organizing Committee. The criteria included global and national popularity, universality in main international events, and the cost and complexity of the preselected sport.
IPC President Andrew Parsons congratulated the International Federation of Sport Climbing on the inclusion of climbing in the LA28 Paralympic Games, stating that it is an exciting and fast-paced sport that will attract new audiences to the Paralympic Games.
The inclusion of climbing as a new sport in the Paralympic Games program highlights the IPC’s desire to keep the Paralympic Games fresh and showcase the diversity of the Paralympic Movement.
The 23 sports that will be included in the LA28 Paralympic Games are:
- Blind football
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Archery
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Canoeing
- Climbing
- Cycling
- Horse riding
- Judo
- Weightlifting
- Rowing
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Taekwondo
- Triathlon
- Shooting
- Sitting volleyball
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair fencing
- Wheelchair rugby
- Wheelchair tennis