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Paracanoeing will be featured in the Paralympic Games sports programme in Los Angeles 2028 for the fourth time, after its debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 with six medal events.

 

Three new events were added in Tokyo, with the Va’a category added for the first time, while in Paris in 2024 an additional women’s Va’a race will be part of the programme, putting 10 medals on offer.

 

ICF Paracanoe Committee Chair, John Edwards, said confirmation the sport will be part of the LA Games is a vote of confidence in the discipline. “Since it first appeared in Rio in 2016 paracanoe has been one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports in the world,” Mr Edwards said.

 

“Athletes from other sports are taking the opportunity to try their skills in paracanoe, because they see an exciting sport which is easily accessible and highly athletic. In Tokyo we saw lots of new countries competing for the first time, and I’m sure in Paris and Los Angeles we will see even more.

 

“We thank the IPC and LA 28 for their vote of confidence in paracanoe. To be included in the Games program carries with it an enormous sense of responsibility, and we are determined to continue our role not only as great ambassadors for the Paralympics, but for the para community around the globe.”

 

 

The ICF will have the chance to nominate which paracanoe events it would like included in LA28, with the goal of adding VL1 races for both men and women and taking to 12 the number of Paralympic medals on offer.