Paralympic Games History: Record 2.7 million tickets sold. Unprecedented media coverage with TV, radio and web coverage in 154 countries. Participation of 160 nations and 4,328 athletes

HIBAPRESS-RABAT

2012

The London Paralympic Games take place from August 29 to September 9 with 164 countries. For this return to the roots of Paralympism, the stands are full with a record number of tickets sold: 2.7 million. The public’s enthusiasm is unprecedented and the media coverage is unprecedented. In tribute, the mascot of the Paralympic Games is named Mandeville. The bar of 4,000 participating athletes is crossed with 4,237 athletes. It is also in London that athletes with an intellectual disability are once again integrated into the competition program.

In his closing speech, IPC President Sir Philip Craven described the London Paralympic Games as “The greatest Games ever. In London, the Paralympic Games have come home and found the path to their future.”

The British channel “Channel 4”, which then held the broadcasting rights, broadcast more than 150 hours of live coverage, achieving a record audience of 39.9 million people, or 69% of the British population.

2016

The XV Paralympic Games were held for the first time in South America, in Rio, from 7 to 18 September. 160 nations and 4,328 athletes were competing and two new sports were added to the programme: para canoeing (sprint) and para triathlon, bringing the number of sports on the programme to 22. The Games were dominated, once again, by China, which won 239 medals including 107 titles; followed by Great Britain, Ukraine, the USA and Australia. These Games were the most broadcast in history with television, radio and web coverage in 154 countries.

2021

Following a one-year postponement due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the Summer Paralympic Games took place in Tokyo from August 24 to September 5, 2021. Two new sports were added to the program: para badminton and para taekwondo.