The European Para Championships is a multi-sport event contested by para-athletes from European nations. The championships have been awarded the status of regional games by the European Paralympic Committee and offer qualification opportunities for the Paralympic Games. The Championships are partly analogous with the European Games, taking place a year before the Paralympic Games and endorsed by the EPC, and with the European Championships in that they represent a combination of selected European championships in different sports.
 | |
| First event | 2023 European Para Championships Rotterdam, Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Occur every | 4 years |
| Last event | 2023 European Para Championships Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Purpose | Multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities from nations on the European continent |
| Headquarters | Oss, Netherlands[1] |
| Rights holder | European Para Championships BV |
| Website | https://europeanparachampionships.com/ |
History
editThe event is founded by Eric Kersten from the Netherlands. In 2019, he started with the idea of combining different European Championships in parasports after his company Team TOC organized the World Archery Championships back to back with the World Para Archery Championships in the city centre of Den Bosch.
Editions
editThe championships are planned to be held on a four-year cycle, taking place in the year proceeding the Summer Paralympic Games. The first edition of the championships was held in August 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.[2][3][4][5] As of February 2024, Turkey and Germany are bidding to host the 2027 edition.[6]
| Number | Year | Host | Sports | Events | Nations | Athletes | Top placed team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023 |  Rotterdam, Netherlands[7]
|
10 | 90 | 42 | 1,500 |  France
|
| 2 | 2027 | TBD[8] |
Sports
editThe sports contested at the first European Para Championships are: para archery, para badminton, boccia, para cycling, goalball, para judo, para shooting, para taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "European Para Championships B.V. Oss".
- ^ "About EPC". European Para Championships.
- ^ "Eric Kersten: The birth of the European Para Championships". www.insidethegames.biz. February 4, 2023.
- ^ "GAMES & EVENTS". Europaralympic.
- ^ "Rotterdam to host first-ever European Para Championships in 2023". www.insidethegames.biz. January 16, 2023.
- ^ "European Para Championships Receives Two 2027 Bids".
- ^ "European Para Championships". Facebook.
- ^ "Organisers want "additional applicants" for 2027 European Para Championships". www.insidethegames.biz. February 2, 2023.