Para Climbing Makes History as First New Sport Added to Paralympic Games
Los Angeles is set to make Paralympic history in 2028. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has given the green light to add Para Climbing to the LA28 Paralympic Games. This marks the first time an organizing committee has successfully pitched a new sport for the Paralympics.
Casey Wasserman, the LA28 Chairperson and President, is thrilled about the decision. “LA’s all about diversity and inclusion,” he says. “It’s the perfect place to host our first Paralympic Games and really boost the Paralympic Movement worldwide. We’re excited to welcome Para Climbing athletes and fans, and we’re grateful to the IPC for working with us to make this happen.”
Janet Evans, LA28’s Chief Athlete Officer, sees this as a win for athletes. “This is what it’s all about – creating more opportunities for Paralympic athletes to shine on the world stage,” she explains. “We can’t wait to welcome them to LA in 2028.”
The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is equally excited. IFSC President Marco Scolaris says, “This is huge for us. Being the first sport recommended by an Organizing Committee shows how well we’ve worked with LA28 and the IPC. We’ve been climbing this mountain since 2007, and now we’re reaching new heights as part of the Paralympic family.”
Para Climbing will join 22 other sports at the LA28 Paralympic Games, scheduled for August 15-27, 2028. The next step is figuring out the specifics – which events will award medals and how many athletes will compete. That’s set to be decided in 2025.
LA28 is breaking new ground in other ways too. It’s the first organizing committee to suggest additional sports for both the Olympics and Paralympics. With this addition, LA28 is not just hosting games – it’s shaping the future of Paralympic sports.
Los Angeles is set to make Paralympic history in 2028. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has given the green light to add Para Climbing to the LA28 Paralympic Games. This marks the first time an organizing committee has successfully pitched a new sport for the Paralympics.