Australian wheelchair athlete Angie Ballard has notified competition organisers ahead of the 2032 Paralympic Games in Brisbane.

The Australian veteran leads the Paralympic team in Paris after making her Paralympic debut in Sydney in 2000 and becoming world champion ahead of the Athens 2004 Games.

Ballard, who has won eight medals in seven Games, finished sixth in the 400-meter T53.

However, Ballard was frustrated that Paris 2024 organisers failed to take into account the needs of Paralympians.

“You don’t have to add later. You don’t have to make exceptions,” she said in a passionate interview at the Stade de France.

“I don’t have to make 57 right turns here, which is not good for me.

“I don’t have to drive on poor road surfaces with expensive tires that could burst at any moment.

“If everything is planned from the beginning, then everyone is welcome, everyone is included, and everyone has the opportunity to be the best they can be. And that’s how it should be.

“We are here to perform, not to show how we can meet the challenge.”

Australian wheelchair athlete Angie Ballard is competing in her seventh Paralympic Games and has spoken about the frustrations athletes feel

Ballard wants athletes to have a greater say in organizing future Paralympic Games

The Australian team co-captain revealed on Thursday during preparations for the 400m that only three lanes were available for wheelchair athletes to warm up.

“I just want to point out that a lot of decisions about international Paralympic Games and national athletics competitions are made by people who don’t really take into account the outcomes of our actions,” she said.

“I think we need more people with first-hand experience participating in these conversations, former athletes, former coaches.

“Anyone with life experience is the best, but you can’t just get one answer about disability and sports.”

Wheelchair athletes at the Games also highlighted that the design of many stadiums, particularly the narrow corridors of the Stade de France, made movement difficult.

Ballard insisted her frustrations did not stem from the fact that she was given a T53 classification.

“I would like to see the day when all classes are supported to achieve the best outcomes they can,” she said.

“Which means different things for different classes. Some of our quadriplegic athletes can’t sweat, so wearing them in the heat of the day will have a risk to performance.

“The same applies to athletes in their 30s (who fall into that age range) who have problems with coordination, so long walks can affect their performance.”