The Road to the Los Angeles Paralympics: Conquering America
Los Angeles, you’re next.
Paris raised the game for the Paralympics, with over 4,000 athletes and 2.4 million tickets sold, second only to the 2012 London Games. Now, the challenge for U.S. organizers is to surpass it with a groundbreaking moment for para sports.
“We want to conquer America,” said Craig Spence, the spokesman for the International Paralympic Committee.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Reynold Hoover, CEO of the organizing committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics, is confident that the Paralympics can achieve this goal.
“We don’t have the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Palais, but we’ve got the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, and SoFi Stadium, along with other state-of-the-art venues,” he said.
The Paralympic venues for Los Angeles are yet to be announced, with a goal to finalize them by the end of 2024. Since LA received the bid in 2017, venues like Crypto.com Arena and SoFi Stadium have been re-envisioned or built.
With five new sports coming to the Olympics and para climbing added to the Paralympics, up to 15,000 athletes are expected to compete, aiming to showcase their intensity and commitment to sport. The Paralympics in the United States face several key areas to succeed, notably in:
Television
As the Paris Games concluded, American football took over the U.S. sports market. Para triathlon veteran Chris Hammer acknowledged the challenge of competing with mainstream sports on TV and the need to raise awareness and engagement in niche sports like the Paralympics.
Television coverage has played a crucial role in promoting the Paralympics, with nations like the UK and France offering extensive live broadcast coverage. However, in the U.S., the challenge lies in reaching a wider audience, potentially through free-to-air coverage.
Olympic Fatigue
Keeping audiences engaged throughout the Olympics and Paralympics remains a challenge, but with new interactive experiences in the works, potential boredom is addressed. The upcoming Los Angeles Games aim to generate excitement and act as a “home field advantage” for American fans.
True Stars
Access to Hollywood gives the organizing committee the opportunity to make Paralympic athletes global cultural icons, potentially shifting perceptions and creating mainstream stardom for para athletes. Collaboration between Paralympians and Olympians could further boost visibility and awareness of para sports.
Medal Count
While the U.S. dominates the Summer Olympics medals table, China has been the leading force in Paralympics since 2004. The U.S. aims to showcase its full potential in future Paralympic Games and provide better support for athletes, including increased financial backing from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Author: Amanda Vogt, John Curley Center for Sports Journalism, Penn State
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