LOS ANGELES — When the Paralympic Games come to Los Angeles for the first time in 2028, athletes for 22 different sports will be able to compete. LA28 confirmed its initial sport program Wednesday, announcing that the International Paralympic Committee approved two never-before-featured Paralympic sports for the 2028 competition: para climbing and para surfing. 

Other sports that will be included in the 2028 Paralympics include: para badminton, boccia, blind football (soccer), goalball, para judo, para canoe, para equestrian, para table tennis, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair basketball, para archery, para athletics, para powerlifting, sitting volleyball, para swimming, para rowing, shooting para sport, para taekwondo, para triathlon, wheelchair rugby and para cycling. 

Organizers for LA28 said the group received a record 33 para sports applications for the games since opening up the process last July. They have the opportunity to propose even more sports before the program is finalized later this year. 

“Determining these sports for inclusion to the LA28 Paralympic Games through the International Federation application process was a tremendously difficult job for the IPC Governing Board as we received 33 excellent applications,” International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said in a statement.

“The sports we have included in the LA28 Paralympic Games provide a competitive and attractive sport program that will showcase the diversity of the Paralympic Movement,” and also prioritized the committee’s goals of fiscal and environmental responsibility, he added.

Like the Olympic Games, which will take place in LA on July 14-30, 2028, the Paralympic Games are an international multi-sport event. The athletes who compete have various physical disabilities that range from vision and intellectual impairments to impaired muscle power and range of movement. The Paralympic Games will take place in LA on Aug. 15-27, 2028.