Para Climbing proposed for 2028 Paralympic Games

LOS ANGELES — The LA 2028 Paralympic Games have submitted a proposal to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for the 2028 Paralympic Games program. The organizers announced the proposal on Wednesday.

By making the announcement LA has become the first organizing committee to propose additional sports for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the same games.

“LA28 is proud to propose adding Para Climbing to the Paralympic Sport Program, and to be the first organizing committee in history to propose a new sport for the Paralympic Games,” said LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans.

“We would like to thank the International Paralympic Committee for giving us the opportunity to add this exciting sport in 2028. We see this as a unique chance to give more athletes the ability to compete on the world’s biggest stage, while creating an expansive and elite adaptive sport program that exemplifies LA28’s commitment to elevating the Paralympic Movement.”

Last January the initial sports program was approved with 22 sports. Beyond those 22 sports the IPC gave the organizers the rights to add a new sport from a shortlist of options and submit it for approval.

That approval vote will come in just two weeks when the IPC Governing Board has an already scheduled meeting on June 26^th. If it receives approval the sport will be added to the Paralympic Games for the first time.

The decision comes as a blow for CP Football, which was seeking readmission to the Paralympic Games following its recent removal, working on meeting more criteria for readmission, with the organization believing it was close to doing enough.

Sailing will also be disappointed to miss out, the sport had been a surprise exclusion, and World Sailing still believes it would meet the criteria to return but again those hopes were dashed.

Para Climbing already has a following and an elite level tour run by the same organization that runs sport climbing at the Olympic Games. It will make it an easier venue choice than other options as nothing much needs to be used, it’s just a matter of erecting a rock wall.