Para Climbing to debut at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles

It is now official. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Executive Board ratified the proposal to add Para Climbing to the LA 2028 sports programme. This is the first time a sport has been added to the Paralympic programme by an Organising Committee. It will join the 22 sports already included.

Para Climbing will be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Programme. This will be the first time that a new discipline has been added to the programme by an Organising Committee. Unprecedented. Last Wednesday,the IPC Governing Board ratified the proposal that was on the table of the Organising Committee. It is now official and Para Climbing joins the 22 sports already included.

“The diversity and culture of inclusion in Los Angeles provides the ideal stage to host the city’s first Paralympic Games and elevate the Paralympic Movement worldwide,” said LA28 Chair and President Casey Wasserman. “LA28 is thrilled to welcome the athletes and fans of Para Climbing and we thank the International Paralympic Committee for their collaboration and partnership to include this dynamic and emerging sport in the 2028 Paralympic Sport Programme”, he said.

The addition of Para Climbing completes the sports programme for Los Angeles 2028, pending the outcome of boxing, which is still awaiting recognition of a world governing body by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to remain in the programme.

The IBA is in the process of regaining the status it had for decades until the IOC withdrew its recognition in 2023. World Boxing, which was formed after that withdrawal, is also seeking to fill that spot. However, the IOC has yet to make a decision. It has set a deadline of the end of the year for a recognised governing body to be in place to keep boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 programme.

Sport Climbing made its first steps on the Olympic stage at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and proved to be a huge success with the Argentine public. It then made its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It was included as a new sport in the Olympic programme. It was reintroduced at Paris 2024 and remains on the programme for Los Angeles 2028.

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Sport Climbing’s Olympic presence has doubled due to the significant growth of the sport worldwide. At its Tokyo 2020 debut, there was a combined speed, bouldering and lead climbing event. Now, in Paris 2024, the speed event will be separated from the bouldering and lead events. The result will be an increase in the number of Olympic gold medals from two to four. And now, the ultimate recognition for the sport is its inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

“LA28 is proud to partner with the IPC to create more opportunities for Paralympic athletes to represent their sport and their country on the world stage. We look forward to welcoming them to Los Angeles in 2028,” said Janet Evans, LA28 Chief Athlete Officer.

“We will make history at LA28 when Para Climbing makes its debut, but we have already made history thanks to the LA28 Games. We are honoured to be the first sport recommended by an Organising Committee. This shows the great relationship we have with them and the IPC,” said IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

“When Climbing had its first Olympic Games, it was a dream come true. The same will happen at LA28 when we see our great Para Climbing athletes in action. Our rise since 2007 has been hard, intense and amazing. Together with the IPC and LA28, we will continue to grow and push the sport forward as a part of the Paralympic family,” said Marco Scolaris.

LA28 is the first Organising Committee in the history of the Games to propose additional sports for inclusion in both the Olympic and Paralympic programmes. Para Climbing joins LA28’s Paralympic Sports Programme, which includes:

Blind Football, Boccia, Goalball, Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Canoe, Para Cycling, Para Equestrian, Para Judo, Para Powerlifting, Para Rowing, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, Para Taekwondo, Para Triathlon, Shooting Para Sport, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Tennis. The LA28 Paralympic Games will take place from 15-27 August, 2028.