LA Hosts Its First Paralympic Games

The first-ever Paralympic Games in LA will be an exceptional opportunity to celebrate and showcase people living with physical impairments.

“Whether you’re able-bodied or competing with a disability, the Games provide an unparalleled opportunity to show the world what’s possible,” said LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans. “The Paralympic Games will be an amazing opportunity to celebrate elite athletes while also fostering a more inclusive community for people living with disabilities.”

While other countries have achieved remarkable success advancing Para sport, the U.S. has yet to achieve its full potential.

With the help of Paralympians who participated in athlete forums across the U.S., LA28 is working to ensure all athletes receive the same quality of services, treatment and respect in the 2028 Games. The Paralympic Games will use many of the same state-of-the-art facilities as the Olympic Games to create the greatest athlete and spectator experience possible.

Beyond elite athletes, LA28 will help kids across Los Angeles have more access to adaptive sport, as part of the organization’s $160 million investment in youth sports, recognizing the benefit of sport at a young age shouldn’t be reserved for only able-bodied kids.

The Paralympics began in 1948 when a small group of British war veterans gathered to compete in sport. Since then, the Paralympic Games have grown considerably, with thousands of competitors from more than 150 countries participating in 2016.