LA28 – Summer Paralympic Games
The 2028 Summer Paralympic Games – known as LA28 - will be staged in Los Angeles, California. LA28 will be the first to be held in the United States since 1996 when Para Sailing made its debut at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
Para Sailing debuted at that Olympic Games with the mixed crewboat medal event contested as a demonstration sport. Four years later it was included as an official Paralympic Sport with two events at Sydney 2000. A one-person keelboat and a three-person keelboat event were chosen using the 2.4mR and the Sonar.
The events were open to male and female competitors with the host nation’s Noel Robins, Jamie Funross and Graeme Martin taking the first Sonar gold and Heiko Kroger claiming the first 2.4mR gold.
Both events remained through Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 before the introduction of a two-person keelboat for Beijing 2008. The SKUD18 was the chosen equipment and the first gold medal went to America’s Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker.
Looking ahead to LA28
World Sailing has LA28 firmly in its sights for Paralympic Sailing reinstatement. As David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, puts it:
“ Our Para Sailing athletes are some of the most accomplished sailors in the world. We have many international para sailors who are inspiring generations. ”
“ This is why World Sailing's mission to get Para Sailing reinstated as a Paralympic sport is well underway. We are determined that our Paralympic sailors will be reunited on the water at LA28. ”