Basketball remains one of the most followed sports in the world, but not many are aware that the sport is also played by physically challenged athletes. In fact, more than more than 100 countries play wheelchair basketball at the moment, with teams like France, the USA, Great Britain, etc. participating in the sport at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024. The wheelchair basketball was designed at first to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers and help them release stress. Since the physically challenged athletes had to use wheelchairs to travel across the court, the sport started to be called wheelchair basketball.

There also exists an International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, according to which the sport was first played 1945 between two hospitals in the United States.

The International Paralympic Committee states: “Wheelchair basketball first emerged around 1946 in the USA, developed by injured servicemen from World War II. Most were former able-bodied players who wanted to continue playing the game. The simple adaptations and slight rule variations for people in wheelchairs allowed the sport to spread across the US, and eventually worldwide.”

Wheelchair basketball was introduced to the Paralympic Games 1960 in Rome. The Rome Paralympics had a total of eight sports, one of which was wheelchair basketball. In the inaugural campaign, it was the United States of America that won two gold medals in wheelchair basketball.

Wheelchair basketball match australia – nederland Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Great atmosphere … pic.twitter.com/1npir5OlyP

— sdl (@sandrine_lange) August 29, 2024

Kicking off the Paralympics with pure energy, intensity, and excitement! #Paris2024 #Paris2024WWB #Paralympics #wheelchairbasketball pic.twitter.com/mXWrQI2Nsl

— IWBF #WheelchairBasketball (@_IWBF) August 29, 2024

Over the years, wheelchair basketball has seen its popularity soar through the roof.

LeBron James said his third Olympic gold felt the best of them all as the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer helped the United States beat France 98-87 in the final on Saturday. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar returned to the Olympics after a 12-year absence, notching 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as Team USA held off a battling France to make it five successive men’s basketball golds. “It’s a big moment for USA basketball,” said James.

“I’m just living in the moment. I feel super humbled that I can still play this game and play it at a high level, play with 11 other great players, and a great coaching staff go out and do it for our country.”

The US beat France for the second Olympic final in a row, with James back in the squad and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry making his tournament debut.

“It was great. I think you wouldn’t want it any other way to be able to face off against the host team. It was a great atmosphere,” said James.

The 39-year-old won bronze as a teenager at Athens 2004 and was part of the “Redeem Team” four years later that took gold in Beijing. James appeared again at London 2012 but had not played at the Games since.

“It’s the best one because it’s the one that’s right now,” said James, suggesting it would be his final Olympics.

“I can’t see myself playing in LA (in 2028). Although I also didn’t see myself playing in Paris. But four years from now, I can’t see it,” he said.

Breaking Introduced to Paris 2024

Commonly known as breakdancing, the sport of breaking is the only completely new sport to be added to the competition. Originally a form of dance, breaking has evolved into a competitive international sport. First introduced to the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, it has now been included in the Paris Olympics roster.

Interestingly, breaking has been confirmed to not be there for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Kayak cross makes its debut

Added under the category of the canoe slalom umbrella, the kayak cross is a new format that will debut in Paris 2024. In this format, four athletes race against each other from a ramp above the water. It is also the first time that canoeing will feature participants competing against each other, and not just the clock.

Returning: surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing and 3×3 basketball

The surfing events for Paris 2024 will happen 9,000 miles away in the France-governed island of Tahiti, which falls in French Polynesia. Tahiti is a picturesque island located in the pacific ocean, and will play host to the surfers for the Olympic Games this summer.

The unique 3×3 basketball, skateboarding and sport climbing events also make a comeback. The latter will see its total participants increase from 40 to 68.

Other changes: “Lucky Losers” and more

Track and field events between 200m and 1500m (including hurdles) in Paris 2024 will see athletes get a second bite at the cherry, if they fail to qualify for the semifinals. A repechage heat will allow a second chance, providing a pathway for some “lucky losers”.

For the first time ever, men will be part of the artistic swimming competition. A new class has been added to women’s boxing, whilst a class has been reduced from the men’s events. Classes in weightlifting have also been reduced from 14 to 10 in total. And finally, in shooting, the mixed skeet team event will replace the mixed team trap events.