Today in Arco, Italy, the location of the third and final IFSC Para Climbing World Cup of the 2024 season, the IFSC held a presentation about the journey of Sport Climbing from its inception through to the sports inclusion into the LA28 Paralympic Games.

Kicking off proceedings, Vice Mayor of Arco Roberto Zampiccoli, on behalf of the Mayor Alessandro Betta, addressed the attendees setting the scene for climbing in the Northern Italian city.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris, after thanking the Italian Federation and its president Davide Battistella for organising the event, then recalled the birth of the Para Climbing movement and its incredible journey culminating in the historic admission to the Paralympic Games.

Joining President Scolaris from the IFSC was Pierre You, Treasurer and Board Member, and among the founding fathers of the discipline who pushed to include Para Climbing into its first World Championships.

There was a video message from Luca Pancalli, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee and Board Member of the International Paralympic Committee before Germany’s Sebastian Depke, athlete and IFSC Para Climbing Commission Chair, and Italy’s Lucia Capovilla, Athlete Representative of the IFSC Para Climbing Commission underlined the magic of Arco and the steps involved in getting Climbing into the Paralympic Games.

There was also a moment for a historical photo on stage, when President Scolaris and You were joined by Ariano Amici, former Italian Federation president and among the creators of the first Para Climbing competitions, including the very first ever World Cup in Arco.