About the Championships

Kobe Championships

The Para Athletics World Championships is the world's premier para athletics event established by the International Paralympic Committee. The first Championships was held in Berlin, Germany in 1994, and since the fifth Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2011, it has been held every two years.
The Kobe Championships was scheduled to be held in 2021, but was forced to be postponed twice due to the global covid-19 pandemic. Finally, in May 2024, it will be held in Kobe for the first time in East Asia. People both with and without impairments will work together to connect the excitement of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and the growing interest in para-sports to the next generation, expand the circle of exchange through sports, and bring people with and without impairments together. We are aiming for a Championships that promotes urban development that is easy for everyone to live in.

Kobe Championships

Venue

The "Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium", official venue for the Championships, is one of Japan's leading multi-purpose stadiums, which was built in conjunction with the 1985 Summer Universiade. It was also used as a venue for the 1989 Kobe FESPIC Games.

Venue

Highlights

About

It is mainly divided into track and field events, and athletes compete in each event. Although the term ``disability'' may simply be used to refer to people with disabilities, there are many types and parts of the body that have disabilities, such as physical disabilities such as arms and legs, visual impairments, and intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, even people with the same disability have different degrees of severity. For this reason, in para athletics, competitions in the same event are divided into smaller sections depending on the part of the disability and its severity. 171 events are scheduled to be held at the Kobe 2024 World Para Athletics Championships. The most common class will be the 100m, with a total of 33 men and women expected to win 100m gold medals.

About
About

Powerful performance

Don't miss the impressive performance, which rivals the Olympics. For example, the world record for the Paralympic long jump is 8.72cm, set by German athlete Markus Rehm. (As of the end of January 2024) On the other hand, the world record for able-bodied men's long jump is 8.95 cm, set by American Mike Powell at the 1991 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, and it may not be long before this record is broken. yeah. Please feel the power up close.

people who support athletes

Pay attention to the evolution of tools!

Wheelchairs for competitions are called ``racers'' and have three wheels, are made of lightweight and durable carbon fiber reinforced plastic or titanium, and are designed to avoid wind resistance. It can reach speeds of 30km/h, which is comparable to a moped. The prosthetic legs are also made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, and have different shapes for different sports such as short distance and jumping. In addition, throwing tables for wheelchair athletes are securely secured with belts to prevent their bodies from floating. Please take a look at the equipment itself, which has evolved to suit the characteristics of the sport, and the athletes who master the equipment.

Pay attention to the evolution of tools!
Pay attention to the evolution of tools!

people who support athletes

Assistants for visually impaired athletes in track events are called "guide runners." The guide runner runs alongside the athlete, holding onto the tether (accompanying rope) and calling out to them. As an assistant, it is against the rules to pull a competitor or cross the finish line at the same time or before a competitor. For events over 5000m, up to two guide runners may be substituted. If an athlete wins a medal, the guide runner (only if one guide runner competes from the preliminaries to the final without substitutions) will also receive a medal.
In field events, athletes compete with two assistants, an ``escort'' and a ``caller.'' For example, in jumping events such as the long jump, the escort guides the athlete to the starting line for the run-up, holds the athlete's hand, and shows them the direction in which to run. At the takeoff location, the caller uses hand clapping and voice to guide the approaching athletes and tell them where to take the takeoff.

people who support athletes
people who support athletes

Event Outline

  • Event title Japanese name: 神戸 2024 世界パラ陸上競技選手権大会
    English name: KOBE 2024 PARA ATHLETICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
  • Championships Period Friday, May 17th to Saturday, May 25th, 2024
    Morning Session 9:00-12:00
    Evening Session 17:00-20:00
  • Championships Venue Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium
  • Number of players participating Approximately 1,300 people from approximately 100 countries/regions (estimated)

This is the 11th edition of the Para Athletics World Championships,
and the first to be held in Japan, and East Asia as a whole.

Championships Vision

  • Inheriting the Paralympic movement and promoting parasports

    TSUNAGERU connect

    We will inherit the emotion and excitement of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and increase interest in parasports.

  • Promoting international friendship

    HIROGERU Expand

    Promote "Kobe, an international sports city" to the world and expand the circle of exchange through sports.

  • Realizing an inclusive society

    SUSUMERU Recommend

    We will use this tournament as an opportunity to create a city where everyone, including people with disabilities, can live comfortably.

Tournament detailed materials

What is the Para Athletics World Championships?

The Para Athletics World Championships is the world's premier para athletics competition founded by the International Paralympic Committee. The first Championships was held in Berlin, Germany in 1994, and has been held every two years since the fifth Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2011.

1st 1994 Berlin, Germany
2nd 1998 Birmingham, United Kingdom
3rd 2002 Lille, France
4th 2006 Assen, Netherlands
5th 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand
6th 2013 Lyon, France
7th 2015 Doha, Qatar
8th 2017 London, United Kingdom
9th 2019 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
10th 2023 Paris, France
Organising Committee/Ambassadors/Supporters

ABOUT THE
CHAMPIONSHIPS Organising Committee/Ambassadors/Supporters

The Local Organising Committee

11th General Meeting
Held on June 30, 2023. The business report and financial statements for FY2022 were approved. We also reported on recent preparations for the Championships as well as the first round of confirmed sponsors for the Championships. A variety of opinions were raised, including how to convey the classification criteria to spectators in an easy-to-understand manner.

10th General Meeting
Written meeting held in March, 2022. Matters such as amendments to the organising committee regulations were approved.

9th General Meeting
Held on January 31, 2023. The business plan, and income and expenditure budget for FY2023 were approved.
In addition, participants reported on the progress of preparations for the tournament, including the progress of exhibiting PR booths at events in various locations (including the Tokyo metropolitan area and Osaka), and had a positive discussion, including exchanging ideas for other public relations activities. .

8th General Meeting
It was held on July 5, 2022, and the business report and financial statements for FY2021 were approved.
In addition, the decision on the new date for the tournament (May 2024) was reported, and a lively exchange of opinions was held regarding future efforts to hold the tournament based on the five pillars aimed at realizing the basic philosophy. Ta.

7th General Meeting
A written meeting was held in March 2022, and the business plan and income and expenditure budget for FY2020 were approved.

6th General Meeting
It was held face-to-face on December 1, 2021. In light of the challenges surrounding the tournament, such as the global pandemic of the new coronavirus infection, we discussed changing the date and future policy, and it was approved to postpone the event from August to September 2022 to around spring 2024. I did.

5th General Meeting
A written meeting was held in July 2021, and the business report and income and expenditure settlement for 2020 were approved.

4th General Meeting
A written meeting was held in March 2021, and the business plan and income and expenditure budget for 2021 were approved.
We also reported on the progress of stadium renovations, the decision on the tournament logo and key visuals, and the appointment of Mizuki Noguchi, gold medalist in the women's marathon at the Athens Olympics, as a tournament ambassador.

3rd General Meeting
The 3rd General Assembly of the Games Organizing Committee was held on June 25, 2020. It was held in writing as a response to the new coronavirus infection, and the business report and income and expenditure settlement for fiscal 2019 were approved.

2nd General Meeting
The second general meeting was held on February 17, 2020. During the meeting, there was a lively discussion about the business plan for FY2020. Furthermore, Mr. Koji Murofushi, a gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and Mr. Atsushi Yamamoto, a silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics who is expected to play an active role at the Tokyo Paralympics, were appointed as ambassadors who will promote the Championships. (In October 2020, Mr. Murofushi resigned from his position as a PR ambassador for the Championships due to his appointment as Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency.)

2nd General Meeting

Inaugural Meeting
The Local Organising Committee of Kobe 2021 World Para Athletics Championships was established on the 11th of September, 2019. At the inaugural meeting, the purpose of the establishment of the Local Organising Committee, the bylaws of the Local Organising Committee, and the business plan and budget for FY2019 were discussed, and Ms. Akemi Masuda, President of the Japan Para Athletics Federation, was appointed as Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee.

Inaugural Meeting

Official name : 神戸2024世界パラ陸上競技選手権大会組織委員会
English name: The Local Organising Committee of Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships

Constituent Groups: The Local Organising Committee consists of members from Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, the Japan Paralympic Committee, the Japan Para Athletics Federation, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other related organisations and groups in various fields such as sports, welfare, and tourism.

List of committee members
Championships Local Organaising Committee Governance

Tournament Ambassador/Supporter

The Organizing Committee of the Games will appoint those who have made achievements such as participating in world competitions as representatives of Japan in the fields of para-athletics and athletics as ambassadors, and those who have made achievements in sports, culture and academic fields other than para-athletics and athletics. We have entrusted various people as supporters to carry out activities to convey the appeal of parasports and the World Para Athletics Championships in preparation for the 2024 Kobe Games.

  • Atsushi Yamamoto

    Tournament Ambassador

    Atsushi Yamamoto

  • Mizuki Noguchi

    Tournament Ambassador

    Mizuki Noguchi

  • Yoshifumi Nagao

    Tournament Ambassador

    Yoshifumi Nagao

  • Yuriko Kobayashi

    Tournament Ambassador

    Yuriko Kobayashi

  • Shinya Yamanaka

    Tournament special supporter

    Shinya Yamanaka

  • Keiko Takeshita

    Tournament supporter

    Ms. Keiko Takeshita
    Photographer: Kishin Shinoyama

  • Shinichi Taketa

    Tournament supporter

    Mr. Shinichi Takeda
    Photography: Shin Yamagishi

  • Mr. Futo Nozomi

    Tournament supporter

    Futo Nozomi

  • Mr. Kazunari Ninomiya

    Tournament supporter

    Mr. Kazunari Ninomiya
    © officenino Co., Ltd.

Championships Logo / Key Visual

ABOUT THE
CHAMPIONSHIPS Championships Logo / Key Visual

Championships Logo

The Championships logo depicts a massive wave, which broadcasts the growth of sports into the future and the diverse values represented in para sports out into the world.
The lively and carefree lines express the dynamic energy of sports, and the exciting, vivid colouring of the elements express diverse values existing in harmony with one another.
Along with depictions of Port Tower and the Maritime Museum, both landmarks of the harbour town of Kobe, the logo has been designed with a positive message from Kobe to spread peace and diversity through sports.

Championships Key Visual

The key visual was born as an extension of the massive wave featured in the logo. Based on the concept of “the Earth connected by seas, spreading out from Kobe”, the design holds a vision of the worldʼs athletes, supporters and audiences coming together in harmony to accept one anotherʼs diverse values.

Queries about the logo or key visual may be sent here

Press Conference - Championships Logo Announcement
On November 27, 2020, the announcement of the Kobe 2022 World Para Athletics Championships logo was held in Tokyo.