Paracanoe has been officially confirmed as one of the 22 sports to be included in the LA28 Paralympic Games schedule, which is an exciting next chapter in one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports in the world. The International Canoe Federation welcomed the announcement by the International Paralympic Committee that paracanoe will participate in the fourth Paralympic competition. Paracanoe made his first appearance in Rio in 2016, winning six medals. Three new disciplines have been added in Tokyo, with the Va'a category being added for the first time, and in Paris in 2024, an additional Va'a women's distance will be part of the program, offering 10 medals and once again celebrating gender equality in the Paralympic Paracanoe program. John Edwards, chairman of the ICF Paracanoe Committee, said the confirmation that the sport would be part of the Los Angeles Games was a vote of confidence in the discipline. "Since paracanoe first appeared in Rio in 2016, it has become one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports in the world. Athletes from other sports take the opportunity to try their hand at paracanoe because they see an exciting sport that is easily accessible and very athletic. In Tokyo, we saw many new countries competing for the first time, and I'm sure we'll see even more in Paris and Los Angeles. We thank IPC and LA 28 for their trust in paracanoe. Inclusion in the Games program comes with a huge sense of responsibility, and we are determined to continue our role not only as great ambassadors for the Paralympic Games, but also for the Paralympic community around the world," said Mr. Edwards. IPC President Andrew Parsons said that determining the final competition for the Paralympic Games is a long and difficult process, but he is confident that the selected sports will make LA 28 a competition that will be remembered. "Identifying these sports for inclusion in the LA28 Paralympic Games through the International Federation's application process has been an extremely difficult task for the IPC Board of Governors, as we have received 33 excellent applications. All international federations that have submitted applications should be congratulated on the quality of their applications, as they emphasize that all Paralympic sports are becoming stronger. The sports that we have included in the LA28 Paralympic Games represent a competitive and attractive sports program that will showcase the diversity of the Paralympic movement," said Mr. Parsons LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said the athletic lineup is a strong reflection of the host city's community. "The LA28 Paralympic Games will be an incredible moment for elite adaptive sports against the backdrop of one of the most diverse and inclusive cities on the planet. We look forward to bringing to life a wonderful Paralympic sports program that will give athletes and fans an exceptional experience of the Games.LA28 has always sought to integrate the creative energy of Los Angeles into the sporting tradition in order to attract new fans to the Olympic and Paralympic movement. As we explore potential new sports, we will think about how best to improve the experience of athletes and fans and contribute to the overall success of the Games," said Mr. Wasserman. The ICF will have the opportunity to nominate which paracanoe events it would like to include in LA28, with the aim of adding VL1 races for both men and women and increasing the number of Paralympic medals on offer to 12.