The Para-Athletics World Championships invade the Charléty Stadium until July 17th. A life-size test in view of the Paris 2024 Games to be exploited as well as possible from a sporting and organizational point of view.
The World Para-Athletics Championships are in full swing in Paris. This competition allows French athletes to take the pulse just over a year from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. It is also an opportunity for some to win titles, like Manon Genest. “I am very happy to unlock the medal counter both for me and for the French team. » explained in the mixed zone, the long jump bronze medalist T37.
Taking the temperature for Paris 2024
For the public of Charléty, it is the perfect opportunity to discover the 12 sports disciplines and the 1330 athletes. These are more than 171 events which are distributed until July 17th. This competition is an excellent tool to show that para-athletics is a high-level sport like any other, advocating important values. “These are athletes in their own right and not entirely apart”reminded Guislaine Westelynck, president of the FFH.
These championships are the best way to disseminate and share the values and messages conveyed by disabled sport in the landscape of French sport. A desire for recognition supported by the French Handisport Federation. During this event, she made the choice to set up stands in order to raise awareness among the public, young and old, about the world of disabled sports. Various activities also make it possible to increase awareness and understanding of some of the disciplines represented.
“Although this World Cup is a separate competition, of course we can already see the next big step, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, looming”, affirmed the president of the French Handisport Federation. A feeling felt by both the athletes and the Federation. This test competition allows all the athletes to improve their performance and refine their preparation for Paris 2024. For the French, it is also a question of getting used to competing at home.
“The goal is to be able to test the French and Parisian public […] We want him to push us”, assures Trésor Makunda, five-time Paralympic medalist in the T11 category. This is the second planetary competition after the Paralympic Games. An ideal timing to encourage athletes to engage and retain their supporters for future disabled sports events. As Timothée Adolphe, reigning world champion in the 400m category T11, reminded us: “It gives extra energy and motivation, which is a bonus for us. »
Valentine Vernouillet
