Para-climbing to make Paralympic debut at Los Angeles 2028
The International Federation of Sport Climbing has been hosting Para-climbing competitions since 2006
- Published
Para-climbing will make its first appearance at the Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced.
Games organisers LA28 put the sport forward for potential inclusion, ahead of Para-surfing.
The IPC governing board voted in favour on Wednesday, meaning 23 sports will be contested in 2028.
"Para-climbing is a fast-paced, exhilarating sport that I am sure will attract new audiences to the Paralympic Games. You only have to see the sport's impact on the Olympic Games programme to understand this," said IPC president Andrew Parsons.
Climbing made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and remains part of the programme for Paris 2024.
The organising committee of each Paralympic Games may propose one or more additional events.
Para-climbing is the fifth new sport to be added in the last 12 years, but the LA 2028 team is the first organising committee to propose an additional sport.
Marco Scolaris, president of the International Federation of Sport Climbing, said: "Thank you to the IPC for welcoming us as part of the Paralympic family, but thanks must also go to the LA28 organising committee for believing in our sport and making history for the both of us.
"By proposing climbing as an additional sport they have given us another opportunity to fulfil our purpose – to make the world a better place through climbing. All of our Para athletes do this every day, and now they can do it on the world stage for all to see at the Paralympic Games."