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The Parapan American Games 17-strong sports
programme for Santiago 2023 has been announced by the Organising Committee
today (16 December).
Featuring 17 Para sports and 18 disciplines, including Para archery’s return,
the Games will open on 17 November and close on 26 November 2023.
The Para sports are: Para archery, Para athletics, Para badminton, blind
football, boccia, Para cycling (road and track), CP football, goalball, judo,
Para powerlifting, shooting Para sport, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para
taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.
Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) President Julio César Ávila said:
“Congratulations to all 17 sports that will be part of the sports programme at
the next Parapan American Games in Santiago, in 2023.
“The International Paralympic Committee (IPC)/APC reviewed applications from a
total of 23 Para sports against a variety of criteria such as anti-doping
compliance, competition opportunities in the Americas and participation numbers.
The 17 selected Para sports give us confidence in a robust Games programme
reflecting the most popular Para sports in our region.
“The programme features an attractive mix of exciting and extremely engaging
Para sports; we are committed to organising a historic Games in Santiago.”
Santiago 2023 CEO Felipe De Pablo added: "We are fully satisfied with the
sports programme of the Parapan American Games. It is very attractive for
competitors and spectators. We have worked on these Games in the same way we do
for the Pan American Games, replicating every action for both competitions.
"We want the Americas to know that we are talking about high performance
athletes, that the venues will be full of people. With this programme we are
convinced that we will have a wonderful show, which will enhance all the
capacities of those who come to fight for a medal. Athletes and Para athletes
are and will always be the heart of our Games".
APC Athlete Representative Ileana Rodriguez said: "This is not an easy
decision to make as it directly impacts the athletes, who go through years of
hard training and competing to reach their best form ahead of the Parapan
American Games.
"I am convinced these Games will be the best yet in terms of sporting
performances; our outstanding Para athletes will inspire millions and forever
change Chilean society and how disability is perceived.”
Chilean Paralympic Committee (Copachi) President Ricardo Elizalde said:
"It is a very important step to get to know the 17 sports. In Lima (2019 Parapan)
we participated in 10 disciplines and one of our objectives at Santiago 2023 is
to increase the number of athletes and sports.
"At Copachi we have been working since 2013 on providing more and better
opportunities for people with disabilities. That, for example, has led us to
systematically increase the number of athletes in our last international
participations and encourages us to have a record delegation at Santiago 2023.”
Since the first edition in Mexico City in 1999, with 1,000 Para athletes from
18 countries competing across four Para sports, the Parapan American Games have
been growing steadily.
The latest edition held at Lima in 2019 is regarded as the best ever, with over
1,800 Para athletes from 30 countries competing across 17 Para sports, and a
record number of 170,000 fans following the competitions from the stands.
Notes to the Editor
The Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) is the regional organisation,
recognised as the sole regional representative of the Americas Region.
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