With just under a year to go before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and just over a year until the Paralympics, we’re getting excited, and are sure you are too.
2020 is gearing up to be GB’s biggest year yet, with a team of over 370 athletes expected to compete. But what can we expect from the most exciting two weeks in the sporting calendar?
SPORTS
Taking place from 25 August to 6 September 2020, the Paralympics will showcase 4,400 athletes across 22 sports, in 540 medal events.
The event is the second of three consecutive Games to take place in Asia, following the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games and ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
Making their debut as Paralympic sports at Tokyo next year is badminton and taekwondo. Viewers will also be able to watch canoeing, equestrian and rowing live for the first time, as well as parts of the archery and shooting competitions.
MEDALS
Tokyo is a city that is renowned for it’s innovation, so it’s no wonder that they’re taking this mentality with them into the planning and preparation for the Games.
In Japan it’s illegal to throw away household appliances, as the scrap metal can be salvaged and recycled.
The medals awarded to the athletes at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be made from this scrap metal, meaning not only are the upcoming Games showcasing the best of sporting talent, but they’re also striving to be more eco-friendly than previous games.
TEAM GB
Not much has been announced for Team GB’s plans for the 2020 Paras, but we do know that the British team qualified for slots in the shooting during the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport Championships and the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup.
We also can’t wait to see the men’s and women’s basketball teams compete in Tokyo. They are heading to Japan after the men’s team won the gold medal and the women’s team won silver at the 2018 IWBF World Championships.
So, with just over a year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, we can barely contain ourselves. The countdown is well and truly on.
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