Paris 2024: Out with the Olympics, In with Paralympics, Team Nigeria

Sports fans said goodbye to the Olympics on Sunday, August 11, 2024, but Paris still has a lot to offer as the city is set to host its first-ever Paralympic Games today, beginning with a spectacular Opening Ceremony in the heart of France’s capital.

The 2024 Paralympics Games set to begin on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, will see 4,400 athletes from across the globe (205 from Africa) compete in 549 medal events and 22 sports.

65,000 spectators and more than 300 million viewers are strapped in and ready to consume the uniqueness the competition will bring on all four stages.

Nigeria made its Paralympic Games début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona when they sent a delegation of six men to compete in track and field, powerlifting and table tennis.

Adeoye Ajibola won two gold medals in sprint, while Monday Emoghawve got one in powerlifting. Nigeria has participated in every subsequent edition of the Summer Paralympics.

At the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, Nigeria had 22 delegates and racked up 10 medals (four gold, one silver, and five bronze), bringing its total number of medals to 80.

This year, 23 athletes are set to represent in Paris, featuring in Para Athletics, Para-Badminton, Para Powerlifting and Para Table Tennis, with nine athletes competing in Powerlifting, eight in Table Tennis, four in Athletics, and two in Badminton.

Nigeria has seen huge success in two of the sports they will be taking part in this year, the sports being Powerlifting and Athletics.

The bulk of the success has come in Powerlifting, winning 21 medals in the former, of which 24 were gold, 16 were Silver and 14 were bronze. In Athletics, Nigeria has won 21 medals comprising 14 gold, three silvers and four bronze.

Tokyo 2020 Bronze medalist, Lauritta Onye will be the flag bearer in the event, while Folashade Olufemiayo has been named the General Captain for Team Nigeria.

Nigeria’s participation in the Paralympics has been growing, with more athletes competing in recent years. The country aims to continue its success and put together a strong showing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.