Here’s All We Know About The First-Ever African Paralympic Games

A while ago, we reported that there were plans to stage the first African Paralympic Games. At the time, it was just a proposal by the African Paralympic Committee (APC), but right now, plans have been completed and the committee has released more information about the competition.

(Photo: Ventures Africa)

According to the International Paralympic Committee website, the games have been confirmed for January next year, with Morocco hosting. The organisers are expecting around 1200 athletes to take part in it the competition.

The athletes will reportedly be competing across Africa’s seven most-practiced Para sports – athletics, blind football, goalball, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, taekwondo and wheelchair basketball — with most acting as qualifiers for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

While the number of athletes expected to show is mind-blowing for an inaugural edition, it goes to show that para-athletes in Africa have been waiting a long time for a continent-wide sports event that won’t only celebrate their abilities but also bring them to the limelight in global sports.

(Photo: REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)