Certainly! Here's a revised version of an introduction to wheelchair basketball at Paris 2024:

Eight men’s and eight women’s national teams will compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, which open on 28 August

Certainly! Here's a rewritten version:

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**The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be held from 28 August to 8 September 2024. ⒸJoe Toth/ OIS By IPC**

Welcome to Week 19 of Paris 2024 Paralympic Sport Week! This week, we’re diving into wheelchair basketball, a fast-paced sport that demands exceptional teamwork and hand-eye coordination.

At Paris 2024, eight men’s and eight women’s national teams will vie for Paralympic glory, with the Games officially opening on 28 August.

### A Brief History of Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair basketball has a storied history, debuting as one of the eight sports at the first-ever Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960. However, the sport’s roots trace back to 1945, when it was first played at two hospitals in the United States by war veterans, as documented by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation.

In Rome 1960, the sport featured two events: the men’s tournament class A and class B, both of which were dominated by the USA. In the early years, the USA and Israel were the powerhouses of wheelchair basketball. The US men’s team clinched gold in the 1972 and 1976 Paralympics, while the women’s event made its debut at the 1968 Paralympics in Tel Aviv, where the host nation, Israel, took home the gold.

The USA leads the all-time medal table with 13 golds, two silvers, and eight bronzes, followed by Canada with six golds, one silver, and one bronze, and Israel with four golds, four silvers, and four bronzes.

### What to Expect in Wheelchair Basketball at Paris 2024

Wheelchair basketball brings all the excitement of traditional basketball to the Paralympics, with some key adaptations. Teams of five players compete to score the most points, with baskets within the three-point line worth two points, those from outside the line worth three, and each successful free throw earning one point. Games consist of four 10-minute periods, with overtime if the score is tied.

The court, hoop, and backboards are the same size as those used in Olympic basketball, but there are some unique rules in wheelchair basketball. Players must pass or bounce the ball after every two pushes of their wheelchair to avoid being penalized for traveling, and the double-dribble rule does not apply. 

Expect intense competition and incredible displays of athleticism as the world’s best wheelchair basketball players take the court in Paris 2024!