A record 4,400 Para athletes are set to compete across 22 sports at the 2020 Paralympics taking place in Tokyo, Japan less than 400 days from now. Organizers have published the packed schedule, which sees Paralympic events spanning from the Opening Ceremony slated for Tuesday, August 25th and the Closing Ceremony set for Sunday, September 6th.
With over 540 events taking place in 21 venues across Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Shizuoka prefectures, the Paralympics schedule was designed to be family-friendly, allowing as many spectators as possible to experience the competition. 19 of the 22 sports have their events scheduled to finish before 10 pm local time.
The biggest medal day comes at the mid-point on Sunday, August 30th, where 63 medal events are behind held, representing the most of any day during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The following day is another high-hardware day, with 61 medals up for grabs.
Para swimming events are scheduled for August 26th – September 4th at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
The 2016 edition of the Paralympics in Rio saw China top the swimming medal table with a big-time haul of 92 medals, with 37 of them gold. Ukraine was next in line with 74 medals, including 25 gold, while Great Britain rounded out the top 3 nations with 47 medals in all, including 16 gold. The United States and Australia finished 4th and 5th, respectively, in the Para swimming medal table.
Let’s be perfectly clear here, Australia did not finish 5th on the table as a result of sheer hard work and talent alone. Had they played fair, they would have finished 11th or thereabouts.