2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan Overview

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Aug 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Learn about the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, held in 2021, including events, sport venues, qualification, and accessibility plans for the 16th games.

At a Glance

• 1 - The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics were the 16th edition of the multi-sport event.
• 2 - Tokyo also hosted the games in 1964, making it the first city to host the Summer Paralympics twice.
• 3 - Tokyo was chosen over rival bids from Istanbul and Madrid at the IOC session in Buenos Aires in September 2013.
• 4 - Plans included making 20 km of national roads near venues accessible by evening out sidewalks and installing Braille tiles.

Topic Definition

2020 Summer Paralympics

The 2020 Summer Paralympics were the sixteenth edition of the international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, hosted in Tokyo, Japan, and held from August 24 to September 5, 2021 after being postponed from their original 2020 dates. Organized under the International Paralympic Committee alongside the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the event brought together competitors across a wide range of sports, from athletics and swimming to goalball, wheelchair rugby, and sitting volleyball, staged at venues throughout the city. Tokyo, which had previously hosted the games in 1964, became the first city to host the Summer Paralympics twice, and the games were framed around a Discover Tomorrow vision emphasizing innovation, inclusion, and accessibility. Beyond the competition itself, the games served as a catalyst for wider change, prompting efforts to remove physical barriers around venues and improve accessibility across the host city.

Overview

Are the 2020 Paralympics Still Scheduled for 2021?

Yes, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are currently rescheduled to take place between 24th August - 5th September 2021. The new dates were confirmed on March 30th by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The 2020 Summer Paralympics will be the 16th edition of the international multi-sports event. Tokyo was announced as host of the games on 7 September 2013. Tokyo had last hosted the games in 1964 and will soon be the first city to host the Summer Paralympics twice. The IOC voted to select the host city of the 2020 Summer Olympics on 7 September 2013 at the 125th IOC Session at the Buenos Aires Hilton in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Three candidate cities, Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo, bid for the Games and after a secret ballot, IOC members chose Tokyo as the host city for both the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games.

22 Events Scheduled For 2020 Paralympics

Cycling events will be split into two disciplines; road and track. Team events of Goalball, Sitting Volleyball, and Wheelchair Basketball will have men's and women's events, Wheelchair Rugby will be a mixed event, while the football events are only open to male competitors. In January 2014, it was announced that six new events had applied for inclusion in the Paralympic program, where they would debut at the 2020 Games:

• Amputee Football
• Basketball - Intellectual Impairment
• Electric Wheelchair Hockey
• Para-badminton
• Para-taekwondo
• Powerchair Football

In addition to this, three extra disciplines in existing Paralympic events were also put forward for consideration:

• Sailing - Visually impaired Match racing
• Sailing - One person multi-hull
• Wheelchair Basketball 3×3

The 2020 Paralympics will send a strong message of inclusion not just to Japan but to the rest of Asia, building on previous successful games in the continent. The bid's "Discover Tomorrow" vision aims to put Tokyo's power for innovation and inspiration at the heart of the Games, and in terms of the Paralympics this means further accessibility improvements and a strong focus on sport for a better and healthier city.

Direct Qualification Events for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Update

Seven Para sports have confirmed direct qualification opportunities for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Athletes in archery, canoe, rowing, sitting volleyball, shooting, taekwondo and table tennis have a chance to secure their nation's tickets to Tokyo 2020, which are set to take place from 24 August - 5 September 2021. Nine direct qualification events are scheduled in between now and the Games, while other valid events in several sports are also taking place for qualification rankings or to achieve eligibility.

*This includes reallocation of slots from previous methods.

Areas Around Tokyo Olympic Venues to be Made Accessible

The land and transport ministry is planning to remove all barriers that might hamper people with disabilities on a total of 20 km of national roads around the venues for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and other tourist facilities. Part of the effort will be evening out sidewalk levels and installing Braille tiles.

Looking to promote barrier-free facilities in an integrated way, the ministry will set up a liaison team with the central government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and ward governments. To date, the ministry has made roads under its management more accessible in areas around railway stations, government agencies and welfare facilities, but people with disabilities still face difficulties in many locations. The ministry also intends to support such improvements for roads operated by the metropolitan and other local governments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were the 2020 Paralympics held in 2021

The games were postponed to 2021 because of the global situation at the time, but they kept the 2020 name for branding and organizational consistency.

How many sports were contested at the Tokyo Paralympics

The Tokyo Paralympics featured a broad program of para sports staged across many venues, spanning individual and team events for athletes with a range of impairments.

What is the difference between the Olympics and Paralympics

The Paralympics are the elite international games specifically for athletes with disabilities, held after the Olympics and governed by the International Paralympic Committee.

How do athletes qualify for the Paralympic Games

Athletes qualify through a mix of direct qualification events, world rankings, and eligibility criteria set by each sport and confirmed by their national bodies.

What is Paralympic classification

Classification groups athletes by how their impairment affects performance so that competition is fair among those with similar levels of functional ability.

Had Tokyo hosted the Paralympics before

Yes, Tokyo previously hosted the games in 1964, and the 2020 edition made it the first city to host the Summer Paralympics twice.

What accessibility improvements did Tokyo make for the games

Tokyo worked to remove barriers around venues, including leveling sidewalks and installing Braille tiles, to make roads and facilities more accessible.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 2 Aug 2026