Next July 8, around 1,800 French and international athletes will meet for the kick-off of the PARIS’23- World Para Athletics Championships. Thursday was the 100 days to go event of this prestigious competition, an opportunity to bring together sports lovers for a foretaste of this unique event.
The day started with a press conference at the Crowne Plaza where the athletes of the French team, members of the organization, partners and media gathered. Update on the organization, testimonies, this morning was a real moment of sharing and conviviality.
At the same time and all day long, in the heart of Paris on the famous Place de la République, the general public also had the opportunity to enjoy this 100 days to go by walking through the Village set up for the occasion. Both children and adults, sports lovers and those who are simply curious, everyone was able to discover the activities that were set up and to learn about several disciplines such as wheelchair basketball or para-athletics (a track made up of 6 lanes of 30 meters was set up for the occasion). A success for this day that promises a very colorful competition this summer!
Guislaine WESTELYNCK, President of the French Handisport Federation and President of the Organizing Committee of the Paralympic Athletics World Championships
We are going to build a fantastic adventure starting in 100 days now. Today is not the final stretch, but it is an important milestone. It is the final lap before the beginning of this beautiful party. The rhythm will begin to intensify, we are ready to give everything so that it will be a real love at first sight between the spectators, the athletes and the volunteers.
Paul FITZGERALD, Head of World Para Athletics
This is the first time a city is to host both the World Para Athletics Championships and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in two consecutive years. This event shows that all disciplines can be adapted to the particularities of each person. Media coverage will have a major role in the evolution of para sports and more broadly of society.
Laurent PRUD’HOMME, CEO of L’Équipe
The L’Équipe group is proud to cover the World Para Athletics Championships – PARIS’23 on
all its media: its website, its application, its newspaper, its magazine, its free channels and its social networks. Its mission is to show that sport is also a societal issue, an issue of inclusion, political or economic…. but also to promote the French champions, future stars of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Dimitri JOZWICKI, French team athlete – 100m – T38
I can feel the general enthusiasm rising and it’s pleasant. I have 100 days to meet my destiny but also the French and international spectators who will fill the stadium. This 100 days to go event is important in order for the public to meet the athletes who will represent them at the World Championships. I always thought that sport had the power to show disability in a different way.