The 12th Winter Paralympics, held in Pyeongchang, set a record with 49 National Paralympic Committees participating and expanded snowboarding to a full sport.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 12th Paralympic Winter Games
- Dates
- 9–18 March 2018
- Participating NPCs
- 49 (record)
- Athletes
- 569
- Newcomers
- Georgia, North Korea, Tajikistan
- Snowboarding events added
- 8 additional events as separate sport
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Pyeongchang, South Korea was awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, with the International Paralympic Committee overseeing the Games. South Korea had previously hosted the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, making this its second time organizing a Paralympic event.
From 9 to 18 March 2018, 569 athletes with disabilities from a record 49 National Paralympic Committees competed across multiple sports in Pyeongchang. Three countries—Georgia, North Korea, and Tajikistan—made their Paralympic Winter Games debuts, and snowboarding was elevated from an Alpine discipline to a standalone sport with eight new events.
The Games set a participation record for National Paralympic Committees at a Winter Paralympics, reflecting growing global inclusion in para-sport. The elevation of snowboarding to a full sport expanded the competitive program and increased visibility for the discipline within the Paralympic movement.