Paris 2024 Paralympics Commence with Spectacular Opening Ceremony
The 2024 Paris Paralympics commenced with a grand four-hour opening ceremony on Wednesday evening, featuring a vibrant display of sound and visual artistry in the heart of Paris. The ceremony marked the commencement of the 17th Paralympic Games, showcasing approximately 4,000 athletes participating in 22 para sports over an 11-day period. This historical event was distinguished as the first Paralympic opening ceremony not held in a traditional stadium, with approximately 20,000 spectators gathering along the renowned Avenue des Champs Elysées to witness the parade of athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities.
To ensure accessibility for all competitors from 168 national delegations, facilitations including asphalt strips were implemented along the parade route and in the venue, which was designed to accommodate 35,000 attendees at the Place de la Concorde. Following the entrance of the French national team, Tony Estanguet, head of the organizing committee for the Olympics and Paralympics, delivered an empowering address, recognizing the athletes as pioneers advocating for a greater cause. He emphasized the need to transcend the perception of disabilities, inviting spectators to observe the competitors as champions.
Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), contributed a global perspective to the event, urging sports to unite people amid growing conflicts and exclusions worldwide. He articulated that within the next 11 days, the Games would display the immense capabilities of individuals with disabilities when societal barriers are dismantled, lamenting the fact that such inclusive opportunities remain predominantly found within the realm of sports as of 2024.
As President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Paralympic Games open, the ceremony featured dancers portraying strength and resilience, culminating with the raising of the Paralympic flag. French musician Sébastien Tellier performed his renowned piece, “La Ritournelle,” leading to a poignant moment as five distinguished Paralympians ignited the Olympic flame—a design inspired by a hot air balloon—watching it ascend into the night sky against the backdrop of the glittering Eiffel Tower.
The ceremony resonated with emotional power, as attested by veteran Paralympian Ryadh Sallem, who acknowledged the spectacle’s impact and significance compared to previous Olympic ceremonies. The direction of the event by Thomas Jolly emphasized themes of inclusion, featuring performances that highlighted the capabilities of individuals with and without disabilities.
Notable performances included that of French singer Lucky Love, who transformed the title of his song to reflect empowerment through ability. Musa Motha, a competitor who has lost a leg to cancer, delivered an inspiring performance using crutches, leading a group of dancers in a dynamic visual narrative.
Organizers reported over two million tickets sold for the 549 scheduled events, indicating a notable advance in visibility and recognition for athletes with disabilities since the prior Games in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, as expressed by wheelchair tennis star Diede de Groot. The 2024 Paralympic Games are poised to conclude with a closing ceremony at the Stade de France on September 8, 2024, promising an inspiring celebration of human resilience and achievement.
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