The Paralympic Games have grown into one of the world’s premier sporting events in their own right, and the road to LA28 is already taking shape.
How the Paralympics Are Structured
Paralympic competition mirrors the Olympic calendar, with Winter and Summer editions held in the same host cities as their Olympic counterparts, typically following just weeks after the Olympic closing ceremony. Athletes compete across sport-specific classification systems designed to ensure fair competition based on the nature and extent of their impairment.
This Year’s Winter Paralympics
Following Milano Cortina 2026, the Winter Paralympics brought Para athletes to the same historic Italian venues, extending the region’s moment in the global sports spotlight. The multi-region hosting model used for the Olympics carried over to the Paralympic competition as well, showcasing both Milan’s modern facilities and Cortina’s storied Alpine courses.
Looking Ahead to LA28
The next Summer Paralympics will follow the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, continuing the tradition of showcasing Paralympic sport on the same world stage. Qualification pathways for LA28 Paralympic events are following a similar model to their Olympic counterparts, with continental Games and world rankings both playing a role in determining start lists.
Why the Paralympic Movement Keeps Growing
Broadcast coverage and sponsorship investment in Paralympic sport have expanded significantly in recent Olympic cycles, helping athletes gain the kind of mainstream recognition that was much harder to come by in past decades. That growth mirrors the broader qualification landscape shaping LA28, covered in more detail in our Olympics qualification guide.
The Bottom Line
The Paralympic movement has moved well beyond a side event to the Olympics — it’s now a global sporting showcase in its own right, with LA28 shaping up to continue that momentum on one of the world’s biggest stages. Expect that momentum to keep building as more broadcasters and sponsors treat the Games as a marquee event in their own right.