The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is delighted to to announce that Para table tennis will feature 32 medal events at the LA28 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, marking an increase from the 31 events contested at Paris 2024.
The additional medal event will be a new WS1 women’s event for the most impaired wheelchair class, bringing the sport’s Paralympic programme to 15 male events, 15 female events and 2 mixed events.
Significantly, this will mark the first time in Paralympic history that Para table tennis will have an equal number of male and female participants competing at the Games – a historic milestone that demonstrates the sport’s commitment to gender equality and inclusion in Paralympic competition.
This expansion comes on the back of a highly successful Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where Para table tennis became the sport that generated the third most airtime with 615 hours of coverage – a testament to the sport’s compelling competition and global appeal. Only Para athletics (1,648 hours) and Para swimming (860 hours) generated more broadcast coverage.
Dynamic Downtown LA Setting
Adding to the excitement, LA28 organisers have revealed that Para table tennis will take centre stage at the Los Angeles Convention Centre in downtown LA, alongside wheelchair fencing, Para judo, Para taekwondo and boccia. This multi-sport venue will create a vibrant, high-energy atmosphere where excitement from one competition will flow into the next, encouraging constant movement, shared fan engagement and a festival-like environment that highlights the diversity of athletic performance.
The downtown location places Para table tennis at the heart of what promises to be the largest-ever Paralympics, with 4,480 athletes competing across 23 sports in the most gender-balanced Paralympic Games in history. The venue plan strategically maximises the use of premier venues within the Los Angeles area whilst minimising travel times for athletes, with every competition venue positioned within a 35-mile radius.
For the first time since Rio 2016, Paralympians across every sport will have the opportunity to be housed together at the Paralympic Village, which will be based on UCLA’s campus. The Convention Centre’s multi-sport setup promises to deliver an exceptional experience that elevates Paralympic sport to the next level, with accessibility considerations at the forefront of the venue design.
Building Toward LA28
The additional medal opportunity reflects Para table tennis’s continued growth and popularity within the Paralympic movement, providing more athletes with the chance to compete for Paralympic glory on sport’s biggest stage. Building on the tremendous success in Paris, the sport is perfectly positioned to showcase even more world-class competition in the heart of Los Angeles, where the energy of downtown LA will create an unforgettable atmosphere.
Los Angeles will host the Paralympic Games for the first time in its history when the LA28 Paralympic Games take place from 15-27 August 2028. Para table tennis athletes will once again demonstrate the highest levels of skill, determination, and sporting excellence that have made the sport a Paralympic highlight – now with even more medal opportunities, equal gender representation, and in one of the most exciting Paralympic settings ever created. Check out the full list of medal events in LA28 here.