Paralympic Torch Arrives in France Ahead of 2024 Games Opening Ceremony
The arrival of the Paralympic torch in France on Sunday signifies a pivotal moment in the countdown to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, scheduled to commence on Wednesday. The torch, which was lit at Stoke Mandeville, the historical birthplace of the Paralympic movement in the United Kingdom, traversed the Channel Tunnel to reach French soil.
In Coquelles, France, Emmanuelle Assmann, a bronze medalist in wheelchair fencing from the 2004 Games, proudly carried the torch upon its arrival at the tunnel’s French exit. Subsequently, the flame was divided into 12 separate flames, and over the next several days, it will be transported by approximately 1,000 torchbearers across 50 different towns in 12 concurrent relays. These relays are set to converge in Paris, culminating with the torch’s arrival in time for the opening ceremony on Wednesday.
The official reception of the torch on the French side included notable figures such as Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera, Tony Estanguet, the president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, and local dignitaries. Minister Oudéa-Castera emphasized the importance of recognizing the significance of sports among individuals with disabilities, stating, “It is all about inscribing sport in the hearts of people with disabilities.”
One of the torches made its way from Calais to the Rock en Seine music festival, near Paris, carried by DJ Barbara Butch, who had garnered attention during the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony in July. Other torches were dispatched to various locations, including Valenciennes and Rouen in northern France, and further journeys were made to the southern towns of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, Montpellier, and Lourdes, as well as Strasbourg and Thonon-les-Bains in the eastern region.
Notably, martial arts actor Jackie Chan, who was born in Hong Kong, was announced as one of the torchbearers set to navigate the flame during the opening ceremony. Additionally, French actress Elsa Zylberstein and dancer/choreographer Benjamin Millepied will also participate in the torch relay.
The opening ceremony on Wednesday evening is designed to mirror the Olympic festivities, taking place beyond the confines of Stade de France in a parade extending from the Champs-Élysées to Place de la Concorde, featuring a performance orchestrated by artistic director Thomas Jolly. Throughout the Games, approximately 4,400 athletes will engage in competition across 549 events located in 18 venues, with 16 of those mirroring their Olympic counterparts.
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