The multi-sport event, due to take place from February 20 to 26, will welcome athletes from across the nation as well as from around the world, and has been allocated a budget of Rs 20 crore.

"Delhi will host Para Games from February 20-26 and it will be held with help of Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India and also with other stakeholders," India's Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said.

Paralympic Committee of India President Rajesh Tomar said he recently made a presentation about the event to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and received positive feedback.

He claimed the presence of the IPC at the Para Open Games will help the host nation have more formally classified international athletes that will then be able to compete at international events.

Paralympic Committee of India President Thawar Chand Gehlot revealed details about next year's Para Open Games in New Delhi ©Getty Images


"The event will be named inaugural Para Open Games," Tomar told the Press Trust of India.

"Since it will be an 'Open' event, it will see participation from South Asian countries, Europe and America.

"In Parasports you need competition among athletes of similar disability so as not to gain advantage.

"So you need classification.

"In Para-athletics only, you can have more than 150 events.

"This classification is done by classifiers [doctors] from the IPC and our doctors cannot do that.

"In India, we only have some 250 classified Para-athletes who have done this by taking part in international events which is very costly and mostly they have taken part at their own cost.

"The IPC will send classifiers during the Para Open Games and our Para-athletes will be automatically classified.

"This will benefit our athletes.

"Also, the IPC will decide the international athletes who are taking part in this event.

"I have left it to the IPC."

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