Para Climbing has been confirmed as a new sport for inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. The LA28 Organising Committee was the first ever to propose a new sport to the Paralympic program. The International Paralympic Committee's Governing Board voted in the proposal on 26 June.
© Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC
In January 2023, the IPC's Governing Board approved 22 sports for inclusion in the Paralympic Sport Program. In addition to approving those sports, the IPC offered LA28 the opportunity to consider adding a new Paralympic sport from a selected shortlist.
LA28 conducted a thorough evaluation process with close consultation from international federations and the IPC. The Organising Committee assessed "the global and domestic popularity, the universality at major international events as well as the cost and complexity of the shortlisted sport."
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: "Congratulations to the International Federation of Sport Climbing for the inclusion of Para climbing into the LA28 Paralympic Games. Para climbing is a fast-paced, exhilarating sport that I am sure will attract new audiences to the Paralympic Games, you only have to see the sport's impact on the Olympic Games programme to understand this.
"By 2028 Para climbing will be the fifth new sport on the Paralympic sport programme in the last 12 years, underlining the IPC's desire to keep the Paralympic Games fresh and a showcase of the Paralympic Movement's diversity.
"My thanks go to the LA28 for proposing Para climbing, in doing so they become the first organising committee in history to propose an additional sport to the Paralympic Sport programme."
Marco Scolaris, IFSC President, said: "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 and making history for the both of us.
"By proposing climbing as an additional sport they have given us another opportunity to fulfil our purpose – to make the world a better place through climbing. All of our Para athletes do this every day, and now they can do it on the world stage for all to see at the Paralympic Games."
The IFSC has been hosting Para climbing competitions since 2006. Today athletes from 27 different nations regularly compete in the sport which features an annual competition circuit including World Cup events, as well as biennial Para climbing World Championships which run alongside the IFSC Climbing World Championships. The IFSC was granted the status of Recognised International Federation by the IPC in 2017.
The GB Para Climbing Team currently consists of 23 athletes competing across nine classifications. The team has been competing internationally since 2012, supporting athletes to win 25 World Championship medals to date.
Last week, GB para climber Anita Aggarwal won silver at the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup Innsbruck.
The LA28 Paralympic Games will take place 15-27 August 2028.
British Para Climbing events and resources
7 & 8 September | British Lead, Speed and Para Climbing Championships (venue TBC)
Below is a list of paraclimbing initiatives and inclusive climbing accounts to follow on Instagram in the UK via Jeantique Hommel's UKC Article linked above. This list is by no means exhaustive:
• @club.bits
• @eds_climbers
• @cam_climbing
• @climbersagainstcancerofficial
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