Dance sport and karate could appear as exhibition sports in the French capital following a ruling by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) last month.

Both advanced to the second stage of the sports application process for the Games, with cerebral palsy football, golf, powerchair football and sailing all also advancing as contenders for full status in Paris.

Dance sport has never appeared on the Paralympic programme before.

"We are overjoyed to move onto the next stage because this alone is an historic moment for Para-dance sport," said Rodrigues.

"The news is a testament to the passion and hard work of everyone involved on all levels, from the athletes to team staff, the national sport federations and their Paralympic Committees. 

"It shows how far the sport has come, and how quickly it has grown since the first World Championships 20 years ago in 1998.

"To reach Paris 2024 would be monumental, and there is a lot of work still to be done. 

"I encourage the Para-dance sport community to continue working and pushing to make their Paralympic dreams a reality. 

"For athletes to continue training and for national sport federations to support them and show the world why Para-dance sport deserves to be in the Games."

In 2017, the sport held its biggest World Championships in Malle in Belgium which featured 170 dancers from 22 countries.

All of the sports at phase two of the process now have until July 9 to complete application packs that feature a series of questions that aim to give the IPC detailed information regarding a number of issues.

They have joined the 22 existing Paralympic sports at this stage of the process.