- Over 4,000 athletes are competing for 549 medals across 22 sports
- The Nigerian team, led by Folashade Olufemiayo, includes 23 athletes in various sports
- Nigeria has won 80 Paralympic medals since 1992, compared to 27 Olympic medals since 1952
The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games kicked off in style with a spectacular opening ceremony at the historic Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Over the next week, more than 4,000 athletes will vie for 549 medals in 22 different sports at the 17th Paralympic Games.
The opening ceremony featured the introduction of athletes from around the world, each proudly waving the flags of their nations. Team Nigeria was among the nations represented, with Lauritta Onye leading the contingent as the flagbearer.
The Nigerian team comprises 23 athletes competing in athletics, badminton, powerlifting, and table tennis, supported by a dedicated team of seven coaches and five medical professionals.
Folashade Olufemiayo has been chosen as the General Captain for Team Nigeria. She’s an experienced athlete, having won a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics and a silver medal at the London Paralympics in 2012.
Nigeria's Paralympic journey began in 1992, and the country has since earned a remarkable 80 medals, including 40 gold, 19 silver, and 21 bronze. This achievement stands in stark contrast to the 27 Olympic medals Nigeria has won since its debut in 1952.
The 2024 Paris Paralympics, taking place from August 28 to September 8, presents another opportunity for Nigeria's para-athletes to shine, particularly after the nation's disappointing performance at the recent Paris Olympics, where no medals were secured.
Sports minister John Enoh expressed his confidence in the athletes, saying, "Our para-athletes have always been a source of inspiration and pride for Nigeria. I have no doubt that they will make us proud again in Paris."
To celebrate the 2024 Paris Paralympics, TheRadar has compiled 20 intriguing facts about the Paralympic Games:
1. A legacy of more than six decades: The Paralympic Games celebrated their 60th anniversary recently, with the first official event held in 1960, originally named "The Stoke Mandeville Games."
2. Origins in rehabilitation: The Paralympics trace their roots to 1948 when neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized sports competitions at a military hospital in London to aid the recovery of World War II veterans.
3. Tandem with the Olympics: The Paralympics are traditionally scheduled to take place approximately two weeks after the Olympics conclude.
4. Shared venues: The Olympic and Paralympic Games have been hosted in the same cities and venues since 1988, with Paris Olympics 2024 being an exception.
5. "Para" means "alongside": The prefix "para" in Paralympic translates to "alongside" in Greek, reflecting the close relationship between the Paralympic and Olympic Games.
6. Expanding inclusion: Initially reserved for wheelchair athletes, the Paralympics expanded in 1976 to include competitors with various disabilities.
7. The Agitos symbol: The Paralympic symbol consists of three "Agitos" waves, which mean "I move" in Latin.
8. Exclusive sports: Boccia and goalball are two sports unique to the Paralympics.
9. Recognition for guides: Since the 2012 London Paralympics, guides in para-athletics and para-triathlon, as well as pilots in para-cycling, have been awarded medals alongside the athletes.
10. Ensuring fairness: Each sport at the Paralympics has a classification system that ensures fair competition based on the athletes' impairments.
11. No prosthetics in swimming: Para-swimmers are not allowed to use prosthetics or accessories during races.
12. Limited events for intellectual disabilities: Only para-athletics, para-swimming, and para-table tennis are open to athletes with intellectual disabilities.
13. Boccia's unique appeal: Boccia, a Paralympic sport similar to petanque, is designed for athletes with severe motor impairments and is played from wheelchairs.
14. Equal hoop height: The hoop in wheelchair basketball is set at the same height as in the Olympics (3.05 meters).
15. Two bounces in tennis: In wheelchair tennis, players are allowed two bounces of the ball before hitting it, acknowledging the specific challenges of playing in a wheelchair.
16. Audible balls: The balls used in blind football and goalball contain bells, enabling players to locate them by sound.
17. Para-dressage only: Para-equestrian events at the Paralympics feature only para-dressage, with no-show jumping.
18. Sitting volleyball: In sitting volleyball, players move on their buttocks using their arms, leaving wheelchairs on the sidelines.
19. Guided running: T12 category athletes in para-athletics can choose to run with or without a guide.
20. Para-swimming inclusivity: Para-swimming is one of the most inclusive sports, open to athletes with a wide range of disabilities.
Paris Olympics 2024: USA tops medal charts again, China, Britain, France battle for other spots
Previously, TheRadar reported that at the Paris Olympics, China and the United States each claimed 40 gold medals, resulting in a tie for the most golds. Nonetheless, the U.S. topped the overall medal standings with 126 medals, while China garnered 91, repeating almost the same feat at the last Summer Olympics.
During the last Summer Olympics, the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. also surpassed China in the total medal count, securing 113 medals and 39 golds compared to China’s 89 medals and 38 golds.
