This week, over 500 top athletes and 20,000 spectators will converge on the AccorHotels Arena in Paris for the 2016 IFSC World Climbing and Paraclimbing Championships starting 14 September. Find out all you need to know about the Paraclimbing and Speed Climbing Championships here and tune into the livestreams of the semi-finals and finals on 16-18 September.
It’s been an exhilarating year so far on the international climbing circuit, with our very own Shauna Coxsey, MBE, becoming the overall IFSC Boulder World Cup Champion before the season was even over and seeing stellar performances from all our GB athletes.
The GB Paraclimbing Team is ready to rock. It'll be the first event this year for team captain Dave Bowes, as he's just returning from shoulder surgery, and also the first event for John Churcher and Phil Mitchell, but the team have all been training hard and we're excited to see how Esme Harte – bronze medallist in 2014 World Championships, Martin Heald, and Isabella Walsh perform.
Try not to miss speedy young gun Jim Pope and veteran competition climber Dave Barrans as they take part on the 15m Speed Climbing wall as part of their efforts to gain the Combined title – where climbers have to compete in all three disciplines of Bouldering, Lead and Speed.
There's a wealth of talent and we can't wait to see everyone pull hard and try their best at this prestigious event. Read on for our previews of the World Paraclimbing Championships 2016 and the Speed Climbing Championships, along with timings and livestream links.
Dave Bowes: Day 100/190 after #bankart shoulder surgery, working towards #Paris #climbing #worldchampionships
The IFSC World Championships by the numbers
3 different disciplines
5 jam-packed days of competitions
12 livestreams of semi-finals and finals
700m2 of climbing wall surface will be assembled
500+ elite athletes will be crushing
3,000m+ of rope will be used
20,0000+ strong roaring crowd of spectators will be avidly watching
Paraclimbing preview
There's a host of inspirational international Paraclimbing athletes this year and our very own team will be vying to end up on the podium. What's also exciting is that some of the events will be broadcast live for us all to watch back home.
Keep an eye out for 2014 gold medallist Elodie Orbaen of Belgium, who is currently on form after winning the Paraclimbing Cup in Italy in the women's RP3 category. Meanwhile, Kate Sawford of Canada has her sights set on gold in women's AL-2 category, as the 2014 champion is absent this year. Our Esme Harte is also one to watch, as she came third in her category in the 2014 World Championships.
John Churcher will be competing in the men's B2 category, Esme Harte will climb in the women's AL-2 category (leg amputees), Martin Heald and Phil Mitchell are set for the men's AL-2 category, Isabella Walsh will participate in the women's AU-2 category (forearm amputees) and captain Dave Bowes is down for the men's RP3 category (limited range, power or stability).
Times (BST):
Wednesday 14 September:
09:00-14:00 Paraclimbing Qualifications Route 1 All Categories
Thursday 15 September:
08:00-13:00 Paraclimbing Qualifications Route 2 All Categories
Friday 16 September:
17:30-20:30 Paraclimbing Final Women RP3, Women AU-2, Men RP-1, Men B-2, Men RP-2, Women AL-2, Men RP-3
Saturday 17 September:
18:00-18:30 Paraclimbing Final Men B-1 (LIVE)
Sunday 18 September:
12:30-13:00 Paraclimbing Final Men AL-2 (LIVE)
Livestream links:
Paraclimbing Final Men B1
VIDEO
Paraclimbing Final Men AL-2
VIDEO
Speed preview
With the inclusion of Speed Climbing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, there's likely to be a surge of interest in this exhilirating sport, where competitors scale a 15m wall in a matter of seconds – which is no easy feat!
This year all eyes will be on Anouck Jaubert of France, who became the first woman to win three consecutive IFSC Speed World Cups, as she tries to take the title from Russian Alina Gaidamakina. Meanwhile, Marcin Dzienski of Poland will be looking to best 2014 winner Danyil Boldyrev of Ukraine.
Look out for Dave Barrans and Jim Pope, who are competing in Speed as part of their efforts to take the Combined title.
Times (BST):
Friday 16 September:
10:00-12:30 Speed Qualifications Men & Women
Saturday 17 September:
19:15-20:00 Speed Final Men (LIVE)
Sunday 18 September:
13:45-14:30 Speed Final Women (LIVE)
Livestream links:
Speed Final Men
VIDEO
Speed Final Women
VIDEO
WATCH: We Are GB Climbing
VIDEO
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