France had already organized the Para-Athletics World Championships in 2002 in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, then in 2013 in Lyon. This year, they will take place in Paris, from July 8 to 17. One hundred days before the start of the event, a big day of entertainment will be organized on Thursday March 30, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Place de la République. Several highlights will animate this day open to the general public.
A village will open at 9 a.m. In the process, several activities are planned. There are many choices: para-athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, boccia, table tennis or even shot put. In the center of the Place de la République, an athletics track with six lanes, 30 meters each, will be installed.
A major Paralympic event
At the beginning of the afternoon, a concert will take place. From 4 p.m., a meeting time with athletes is planned. The public will be able to chat with them and ask them to sign autographs. The village will close after that, at 6 p.m. The Organizing Committee of the World Para Athletics Championships wishes to make this event a day of initiation to Paralympic sport.
These Worlds represent the second largest international Paralympic competition, behind the Paralympic Games. One year from Paris 2024, this event will have a high symbolic value. For the organizing committee of the World Championships, this competition brings “major challenges for the Paralympic movement, disabled sports and athletics”. The objective for him is to “promote the high level of practice of para-athletics, but also to establish this event as a responsible and committed organization”.