The LA28 became the first organizing committee to propose a new sport for the Paralympic Games. The proposal to include Paraclimbing went to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which leads the Paralympic Movement and manages the delivery of the Paralympic Games. 2028 will mark the third time Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.
The Paralympic Games Sport Proposal Process
New Sport Evaluation Criteria
In January 2023, the IPC approved 22 sports for inclusion in the Paralympic Sport Program. The IPC also identified a limited list of other sports and offered it to LA28 for consideration for inclusion in Los Angeles. Over the next year, LA28 executed a thorough evaluation process and consulted with International Federations and the IPC to determine a final proposal.
LA28 used similar criteria to assess potential new sports for the 2028 Olympic Games. These included global and domestic popularity, the universality at major international competitions, and the cost and complexity of adding the sports.
Para Sport Proposals for LA28
LA28 proposed Para Climbing as an addition to the Paralympic Sport Program. If approved by the IPC Governing Board, para climbing would join LA28’s Initial Paralympic Sport Program.
The program also includes Blind Football (Soccer), Boccia, Goalball, Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Canoe, Para Cycling, Para Equestrian, Para Judo, Para Powerlifting, Para Rowing, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, Para Taekwondo, Para Triathlon, Shooting Para Sport, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Tennis.
“LA28 is proud to propose adding Para Climbing to the Paralympic Sport Program, and to be the first organizing committee in history to propose a new sport for the Paralympic Games,” said LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans.
“We would like to thank the International Paralympic Committee for giving us the opportunity to add this exciting sport in 2028. We see this as a unique chance to give more athletes the ability to compete on the world’s biggest stage, while creating an expansive and elite adaptive sport program that exemplifies LA28’s commitment to elevating the Paralympic Movement.”
The International Paralympic Committee
Based in Bonn, Germany, the IPC’s mission statement is, “To lead the Paralympic Movement, oversee the delivery of the Paralympic Games and support members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.” It was founded in 1989 as a nonprofit and works with over 200 member organizations to advance the lives of the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities.
The IPC’s current members include National Paralympic Committees, International Federations, Regional Organizations, and International Organizations of Sport for the Disabled. Through cooperation with these 208 members, the IPC strives to fulfill its future vision of “An inclusive world through Para Sport.”
LA28
In addition to its mission of creating an “unparalleled Olympic and Paralympic experience for athletes, fans, and our local community,” LA28’s organizing body also helps bring more equitable sports opportunities to the Los Angeles youth community. LA28 partners with PlayLA and the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to provide year-round low-to-no-cost quality sports programming for kids of all abilities.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and LA28 invested up to $160 million into the program. PlayLA is the single largest commitment to youth sports development in California. It states the program will be a legacy before, during, and after the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games Opening Ceremony will take place on July 14, 2028, and the Games continue through July 30, 2028. The 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Opening Ceremony will be on August 15, 2028, and the Paralympic Games conclude on August 27, 2028.
