The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and World Triathlon have welcomed the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board to include cycling and triathlon among the 22 sports selected for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Taking place on August 15-27, 2028, a record 33 para-sports submitted applications to the IPC to be considered for inclusion in the LA28 Paralympic Games.
Cycling has been part of the Paralympic Games programme since 1984, when the event was held in both New York (USA) and Stoke Mandeville (Great Britain).
The 22 sports included in the programme of the LA 2028 Paralympic Games will be: para badminton, boccia, blind football, goalball, para judo, para canoe, para equestrian, para table tennis, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, para archery, para athletics, para powerlifting, sitting volleyball, para swimming, para rowing, shooting para sport, para taekwondo, para triathlon, and para cycling.
LA28 was also given the opportunity to explore the inclusion of para climbing or para surfing on the programme, and if these sports are put forward for consideration, a final decision will be taken by the IPC Governing Board by the end of 2023.
Following the IPC’s announcement, UCI President David Lappartient said “Cycling has been part of the Paralympic Games programme for almost 40 years and has become one of the flagship sports of the event, 16 years after its integration by the UCI in 2007, which greatly accelerated its development worldwide.
“The IPC’s announcement, coming a few months before the first UCI Cycling World Championships, which will bring together 13 UCI World Championships – including para-cycling on the road and track – in Glasgow and across Scotland, is another important development for the sport.
“The UCI looks forward to contributing to the success of the 2028 Paralympic Games and also to seeing the best para-cyclists compete in Paris in 2024 from 29 August to 7 September.”
World Triathlon President and IOC member, Marisol Casado, said “We are absolutely delighted with this announcement. This means a great consolidation to a project that we initiated back in 2008 and that has given us so many great rewards.
“Given the limitations to a certain degree of the Paralympic Games programme, it is a huge achievement for World Triathlon that para triathlon maintains its status within the Paralympic programme, our para triathletes deserve it.
“We will continue to invest in the growing presence of our sport within the Paralympic movement, and we are fully committed to continue to work closely with the IPC and all our stakeholders to strengthen our presence in the Paralympics, and potentially try to increase the number of medal events and athletes that will compete in Los Angeles in 2028.”
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