Google honoured the wheelchair tennis event on Tuesday by showcasing an animated doodles featuring lively birds in Google Doodles, as the Paris Paralympics 2024 continues to draw the attention of sports enthusiasts globally. The Google Doodles portrays two birds engaged in a wheelchair tennis match set against the backdrop of the serene Parisian gardens, either Jardin du Palais Royal or Jardin des Tuileries.
In a statement on its official Google Doodles page, the tech giant wrote, “Ace attitudes and stellar serves. Wheelchair Tennis starts today at Stade Roland-Garros!”
The Summer Paralympics in Paris 2024
The wheelchair tennis events for the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris kicked off on August 30 and are set to wrap up on September 7 at the iconic Roland Garros Stadium, renowned for its clay courts. The tournament features singles and doubles matches in the men’s, women’s, and quads categories. As of Sunday, players such as Martin De La Puente from Spain, Alfie Hewett from Great Britain, Todiko Oda from Japan, and Gustavo Fernandez from Argentina have secured their spots in the last 16 with impressive performances.
Wheelchair Tennis at the Paralympics
Wheelchair tennis is among the fastest-growing wheelchair sports globally, according to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The sport, initiated in 1976 by Brad Parks, a freestyle skier from the United States, closely mirrors traditional tennis but includes a few modifications.
First introduced to the Paralympic Games in Barcelona in 1992, wheelchair tennis is now a feature at all four Grand Slam tournaments. The International Tennis Federation’s Wheelchair Tennis Tour currently includes over 150 events worldwide. Athletes in this sport are classified into two main categories:
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- Open Category: For athletes with permanent impairment in one or both legs but who retain normal arm function.
- Quad Category: For athletes with additional limitations in their playing arm, which affects their ability to handle the racquet and maneuver the wheelchair effectively.
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