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The Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC) has announced that the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will mark a historic moment for the Pacific as the region will send the largest delegation of athletes outside of Australia and New Zealand to the Games.
A total of 13 athletes (seven women and six men) will represent six Pacific nations in taekwondo and athletics, breaking records for the largest representation of Pacific athletes at a Paralympic Games to date.
“The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will see the largest number of Pacific athletes ever competing,” said Fiona Allen of the OPC.
Pacific participation in the Olympics has been growing steadily, with just four athletes from two countries competing in Tokyo 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, eight athletes from four countries competed in Rio 2016 and eight athletes from six countries competed in London 2012. Paris 2024 will feature athletes from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Kiribati and Vanuatu. Tonga sent two athletes to Rio, the most ever.
Athletes heading to Paris include Meilin Wasita Yamon Falimamac Tonga’s Augustus Timion will compete in the women’s F38 discus and Kiribati’s Ogu Timion will compete in the men’s F11 shot put. Fiji has three athletes who are doing well, including Erin Marr in the women’s K44 -57 kg taekwondo. Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea also have multiple representatives in taekwondo and athletics.
Earlier this year, seven of the 13 athletes qualified for the Oceania Paralympic Games at the Qualifying Event in Honiara, Solomon Islands. This qualifier is very important for the region, especially for countries like the Solomon Islands, which qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games but were unable to compete due to the pandemic.
“Oceania Taekwondo is very proud to see Paralympians from our region qualify for the Paris Paralympic Games. This is the first time in many years that we have so many Paralympians representing the Oceania region,” said Denzil Ray, an Oceania Taekwondo official. “We are committed to developing more Paralympic athletes from our region.”
The strong representation of the Pacific in Paris reflects the region’s growing support and development for the Paralympic Movement, with hopes for even greater achievements at future Paralympic Games.
The Paralympic Games opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday 28 August. Tonga delegation Heading to Paris next weekend.
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