News
The Paralympic Games Are in Working Order
Date: August 23, 2024
Category: Paris 2024
Written by Nicolas Messner on 23. Aug 2024 / Photographs by Gabriela Sabau
The fever for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has barely subsided, that of the Paralympic Games is starting to rise. From 28th August thousands of athletes and scores of delegations will once again be in the French capital for what promises to be an event of exceptional magnitude.
![](https://ibsasport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/para-02-1724412979-1724412979-300x230.jpg)
We will have to wait a few more days before the judo competition takes place in the Arena Champ de Mars, the very place where we all vibrated in July and early August. For three days, from 5th to 7th September, the atmosphere will be electric for the 16 weight categories entered.
Thus there are 147 athletes from 43 countries who will try to win the precious, coveted title of Paralympic champion.
Programme
Wednesday 4th September
Official draw: 14:00
Thursday 5th September
Preliminaries: 10:00-13:00
Final block: 16:00-19:00
W-48kg J1/J2 / W-57kg J1 / M-60kg J1/J2
Friday 6th September
Preliminaries: 10:00-13:00
Final block: 16:00-19:00
W-57kg J2/ W-70kg J1/J2 / M-73kg J1/J2
Saturday 7th September
Preliminaries: 9:30-13:00
Final block: 15:30-19:00
W+70kg J1/J2 / M-90kg J1/J2 / M+90kg J1/J2
The athletes who will participate in the event are all top judoka with vision impairments.
Para-judo made its debut at the Paralympics at the 1988 Seoul Games. On that occasion, the first Paralympic judo champion in history was Simon Jackson (GBR) who won the gold medal in the -60 kg category. In Korea, Japan took the lion’s share by winning four of the six gold medals at stake.
In 2004, in Athens, six women’s categories were added, bringing the number of participants to 118 athletes and 30 nations. Frenchwoman Karima Medjeded became the first woman to win a gold medal in para-judo.
The competition at the 2024 Paris Games will be exceptional in terms of intensity and commitment in both the J1 and J2 categories (more information to come about the divisions); that’s a guarantee. All the athletes who have participated in the qualifying events in recent months will be keen to shine and perform. Everything is ready for a great show. So, come along on 5th September at 10:00 to experience an unforgettable moment.