European Aquatics (EA) has announced the inclusion of Para swimming events at the upcoming European Championships in Paris, marking the first time ever that Para swimming will be contested at the competition.
The events included in the competition will be the men’s and women’s 50 and 100 freestyles on August 15 and 16.
This event does not interfere with the 2026 European Para Swimming Championships, which are set for September 7-12 in Kocaeli, Turkey.
Para Swimming’s European Championship debut is just one of several ways that European Aquatics is implementing Para Swimming throughout the continent.
According to a report from European Aquatics, the organization has approved “new Para sport regulations that go beyond Para swimming to include Para artistic swimming, Para open water swimming, and Para water polo.”
European Aquatics is also continuing to collaborate with major partners in these efforts, including the International Paralympic Committee, World Para Swimming, and Special Olympics, all with the goal of continuing to push the needle for Para Swimming throughout Europe.
These established and growing partnerships also support European Aquatics’ efforts to invest in a “wider culture of inclusion through programs, classification development, inclusive governance, and stronger participation pathways.”
In a separate report from European Aquatics, EA’s Vice President Josip Varvodic stated that European Aquatics and the French Swimming Federation are “committed to making the Paris 2026 Championships a model of inclusion.”
“European Aquatics and the FFN are committed to making the Paris 2026 Championships a model of inclusion,” Varvodic said. “With dedicated events for para swimming and 600 children participating in our learn-to-swim programmes and an inclusive approach to sessions for people with disabilities, we are not just hosting a competition – we are building a legacy of accessibility and opportunity.”
