Tokyo Paralympic Games, 4,403 participants, the most in history. The number of female athletes is the most

[이데일리 스타in 주영로 기자] A total of 4403 athletes will participate in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, a record high of 2550 men and 1,853 women.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman Craig Spence said at a press conference held before the opening on the 24th, “A total of 4403 people participated in this event, which is the highest number ever, surpassing the 4,328 at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games.” He also explained that the number of female athletes participating is the highest ever.

The previous Paralympic Games in which women participated the most was also Rio, with 1,671 athletes. At the Tokyo Games, the number increased by 182.

However, a total of 162 countries, including 161 countries and refugee delegations, participated in this event, three fewer than the 164 countries at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Among the 181 IPC member countries, there was a country that did not participate due to issues such as team safety and travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Afghanistan and North Korea, which have recently been controlled by the Taliban, are also not participating.

South Korea dispatched a total of 159 athletes, the highest number ever, including 86 players (58 men, 28 women) and 73 officers. The host country, Japan, has the largest number of participants with 254 players.