Team SA names initial squad of 26 for Paris Paralympics, same incentives as Olympians

With only 51 days to go to the Paris Paralympic Games, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) announced an initial squad of 26 to represent Team SA.

The 2024 Paralympic Games will be staged from 28 August to 8 September in Paris.

Many still have the opportunity to qualify for the Paralympics, including Para Athletics, Para Judo, Para Triathlon and Wheelchair Tennis, which means that more names will be added before the team departs in August.

At the Tokyo Paralympics, South Africa ended with seven Paralympic medals - four gold, one silver and two bronze medals. 

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The 26 athletes announced on Monday represent seven different sporting codes, and the squad is made up of a mixture of experienced and first-time Paralympians, including three medallists from Tokyo Paralympics.

Those medallists are Pieter du Preez (cycling, 1 gold), Louzanne Coetzee (athletics, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and Sheryl James (athletics, 1 bronze).

Double gold medallist Ntando Mahlangu will, unfortunately, not travel to Paris as his main event (men's T61 200m) has been scrapped and the 22-year-old didn't qualify for his long jump class.

Sascoc president Barry Hendricks also confirmed the Paris Paralympic incentives for athletes and their support staff (guides, etc).

The financial incentives for medallists are the same as for the Paris Olympics athletes.

Athletes who win gold will be awarded R400 000, with the coach receiving R100 000.

Silver medallists will earn R200 000 and R50 000, while the bronze medal pay-outs will be R75 000 and R25 000 for the athlete and coach, respectively.

Guides for the visually impaired athletes will also