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Incidence of injury and illness at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games : post-pandemic trends and sport-specific risks

Derman, Wayne ; Runciman, Phoebe ; Eken, Maaike ; Boer, Pieter Henk ; Blauwet, Cheri ; Bogdos, Emmanouil ; Farhoud, Sarah ; Idrisova, Guzel ; Lexell, Jan LU and Mohammadi, Fariba , et al. (2026) In British Journal of Sports Medicine
Abstract

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injuries and illnesses at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Methods: Injuries and illnesses were recorded daily via a web-based injury and illness surveillance system and local organising committee medical facilities. Adjusted incidences (injuries/illnesses per 1000 athlete days; 95% CIs), injury prevalence (IP; %) and injury burden (days lost per 1000 athlete days; 95% CIs) are reported. Results: In total, 4450 athletes (1978 female; 2472 male) from 163 National Paralympic Committees were monitored prospectively during the 14-day Games period (62300 athlete days). A total of 535 injuries (IP=10.9%) were reported in 485 athletes, with an incidence of 8.6 (7.9–9.4). Taekwondo (27.3 (20.7–35.8)),... (More)

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injuries and illnesses at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Methods: Injuries and illnesses were recorded daily via a web-based injury and illness surveillance system and local organising committee medical facilities. Adjusted incidences (injuries/illnesses per 1000 athlete days; 95% CIs), injury prevalence (IP; %) and injury burden (days lost per 1000 athlete days; 95% CIs) are reported. Results: In total, 4450 athletes (1978 female; 2472 male) from 163 National Paralympic Committees were monitored prospectively during the 14-day Games period (62300 athlete days). A total of 535 injuries (IP=10.9%) were reported in 485 athletes, with an incidence of 8.6 (7.9–9.4). Taekwondo (27.3 (20.7–35.8)), football 5-a-side (22.3 (14.4–37.7)) and sitting volleyball (19.9 (14.8–26.7)) showed higher incidences of injury compared to other sports (p<0.001). Injury burden was 8.5 (6.5–11.1) and 19.1% of injuries resulting in time loss from training/competition. The highest burden was observed in taekwondo (64.3 (35.9–115.2)) and football 5-a-side (23.4 (6.2–88.3)). A total of 520 illnesses were reported in 467 athletes (IP=10.5%), with an incidence of 8.3 (7.6–9.1). Illness incidence for female athletes (10.6 (9.4–11.9)) was higher than recorded for male athletes (6.6 (5.7–7.5)); p<0.001 and higher in triathlon (18.2 (12.6–26.7)) compared to other sports (p<0.05). Conclusion: The incidence and burden of injury in taekwondo and football 5-a-side were significantly higher compared with other sports at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The highest incidence of illness was observed in triathlon and female athletes had a higher illness incidence than male athletes.

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Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
Illness, Para-Athletes, Sporting injuries
in
British Journal of Sports Medicine
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:42103446
  • scopus:105038432090
ISSN
0306-3674
DOI
10.1136/bjsports-2025-111086
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5117a12f-d853-40a2-ad5c-195d1d45f1ff
date added to LUP
2026-07-08 13:24:17
date last changed
2026-07-09 03:00:04
@article{5117a12f-d853-40a2-ad5c-195d1d45f1ff,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injuries and illnesses at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Methods: Injuries and illnesses were recorded daily via a web-based injury and illness surveillance system and local organising committee medical facilities. Adjusted incidences (injuries/illnesses per 1000 athlete days; 95% CIs), injury prevalence (IP; %) and injury burden (days lost per 1000 athlete days; 95% CIs) are reported. Results: In total, 4450 athletes (1978 female; 2472 male) from 163 National Paralympic Committees were monitored prospectively during the 14-day Games period (62300 athlete days). A total of 535 injuries (IP=10.9%) were reported in 485 athletes, with an incidence of 8.6 (7.9–9.4). Taekwondo (27.3 (20.7–35.8)), football 5-a-side (22.3 (14.4–37.7)) and sitting volleyball (19.9 (14.8–26.7)) showed higher incidences of injury compared to other sports (p&lt;0.001). Injury burden was 8.5 (6.5–11.1) and 19.1% of injuries resulting in time loss from training/competition. The highest burden was observed in taekwondo (64.3 (35.9–115.2)) and football 5-a-side (23.4 (6.2–88.3)). A total of 520 illnesses were reported in 467 athletes (IP=10.5%), with an incidence of 8.3 (7.6–9.1). Illness incidence for female athletes (10.6 (9.4–11.9)) was higher than recorded for male athletes (6.6 (5.7–7.5)); p&lt;0.001 and higher in triathlon (18.2 (12.6–26.7)) compared to other sports (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The incidence and burden of injury in taekwondo and football 5-a-side were significantly higher compared with other sports at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The highest incidence of illness was observed in triathlon and female athletes had a higher illness incidence than male athletes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Derman, Wayne and Runciman, Phoebe and Eken, Maaike and Boer, Pieter Henk and Blauwet, Cheri and Bogdos, Emmanouil and Farhoud, Sarah and Idrisova, Guzel and Lexell, Jan and Mohammadi, Fariba and Patricio, Marcelo and Smith, Raul and Schwellnus, Martin and Webborn, Nick and Levan, Philippe}},
  issn         = {{0306-3674}},
  keywords     = {{Illness; Para-Athletes; Sporting injuries}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{British Journal of Sports Medicine}},
  title        = {{Incidence of injury and illness at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games : post-pandemic trends and sport-specific risks}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-111086}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bjsports-2025-111086}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}