All About The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

Illustration of athletes competing in the Paralympics (Twitter @paralynpics)

JAKARTA - Hundreds of athletes have climbed onto the Tokyo 2020 podium throughout the Olympics, but the excitement doesn't stop there.

In fact, there is still the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics – the world's largest disabled sporting event – returning to Japan 57 years after they hosted Tokyo in 1964.

As the Paralympics countdown, which will take place in two weeks, it's good to take a closer look at the Games. The following is all about the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics as quoted by Antara from the official Olympic website.

Star-studded

Thousands of Paralympic athletes around the world prepare to compete in 539 events across 22 sports.

Starting August 24, Paralympic legends Daniel Dias of Brazil, Jessica Long, and Mckenzie Coan of the United States are set to add more swimming medals to their collection.

Meanwhile, Germany's Markus Rehm will look to defend his long jump title and Iranian archery Zahra Nemati - a two-time Paralympic champion - will be back in the limelight in Tokyo.

Other stars on the hunt for their first gold medal include Jordanne Whiley (wheelchair tennis) of Team GB and Tomoki Sato (athletics - marathon) of Japan who won two silver medals at Rio 2016.

However, it's not just experienced athletes to watch out for in the Paralympics.

Athletes, including Kiara Rodriguez, are chasing a first gold medal for Ecuador in the T47 long jump on her Paralympic debut, while 19-year-old Ambra Sabatini (who broke the 100m T63 world record in February) will show her skills in Tokyo.

22 sports

Billions of viewers worldwide will watch the Paralympics with more than 22 sports taking place starting August 24.

The sport of shooting returns to the Paralympics in Tokyo 2020 alongside two other sports that made their debut in Rio, namely canoeing and triathlon.

On the first day, cycling, swimming, and wheelchair fencing will lead the competition with the first medal coming in the final of the women's Individual Pursuit event C1-3 3.000 m.

Wheelchair basketball looks set to feature an exciting duel with the British and US teams -- the 2016 Rio bronze and gold medalists -- facing each other.

Meanwhile, in wheelchair rugby, world number three, Japan, began their fight for their first-ever Paralympic title against current defending Paralympic champions Australia.

Two new sports have been added to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, namely badminton and taekwondo, whose matches will kick off on September 1 and 2.

New disciplines were also included. Canoeing will be part of the Paralympics for the first time, as well as the R9 mixed 50 prone SH2 in shooting, and rowing will use the same distance as the Olympics, which is 2.000m.

Before the opening ceremony

Ahead of the opening ceremony, the committee will host a series of festivals for the Paralympic torch relay.

The torch relay spans all 43 prefectures of Japan and in Stoke Mandeville, England - the birthplace of the Paralympics - flames will be brought together to create a single flame at a fire gathering event in Tokyo on August 20.

The Paralympic Flame will also tour Shizuoka, Chiba, and Saitama before the climax of the Paralympic torch relay from August 17 to August 24, the day of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics opening ceremony.

To mark the start of the Paralympics, three Agitos - the symbol of the Paralympics - will be fully displayed at the Odaiba Marine Park off the coast of Tokyo Bay.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics take place from August 24 to September 5.