Paris Commences 2024 Paralympic Games with Grand Opening Ceremony
PARIS — Paris officially commenced the 2024 Paralympic Games on Wednesday, following closely on the heels of the recent Olympics. The opening ceremony, which lasted nearly four hours, took place in the celebrated heart of the city.
As the sun set, thousands of athletes paraded along the renowned Champs-Elysées avenue towards Place de la Concorde, where French President Emmanuel Macron proclaimed the Paralympic Games open. Approximately 50,000 spectators gathered in the designated stands around the largest square in Paris, marked by the prominent ancient Egyptian obelisk, to witness the historic event. Notably, to enhance wheelchair accessibility for athletes, strips of asphalt were laid along the avenue and over the square.
Over 4,000 athletes with various physical, visual, and intellectual impairments will compete across 22 sports from Thursday until September 8. The opening ceremony unfolded outdoors, in a similar fashion to the Olympics that were inaugurated in the city on July 26. Fighter jets soared overhead, leaving trails of red, white, and blue smoke in homage to the French national colors, as athletes entered the square in alphabetical order.
The size of delegations varied markedly, with Brazil presenting over 250 athletes alongside lone representatives from Myanmar and Barbados. Ukraine’s team received a notably warm reception, with members of the audience standing to applaud them.
American flag bearers Steve Serio and Nicky Nieves led their contingent, while the French team concluded the parade, drawing thunderous applause and communal singing of popular French songs, including the celebrated “Que Je T’aime” by the late rocker Johnny Hallyday.
The show, directed by Thomas Jolly—who also directed the Olympic opening ceremony—saw a seamless collaboration of performers with and without disabilities, emphasizing themes of inclusion and triumph over adversity. Performers such as Lucky Love, a French singer who was born without a left arm, shared the stage with wheelchair-bound artists, while dancers with crutches also showcased their talents.
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons expressed aspirations for the Paris Paralympics to ignite an “inclusion revolution” that transcends the sporting arena. He articulated, “The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will illustrate the remarkable accomplishments possible for individuals with disabilities when barriers are removed. The reality that such opportunities predominantly exist in sport in 2024 is concerning; thus, we must strive to promote disability inclusion across all facets of society, including education, the arts, and corporate environments.”
As the ceremony drew to a close, former Olympic wheelchair tennis gold medalist Michaël Jérémiasz carried the Paralympic torch into the space, surrounded by a multitude of torchbearers. Five distinguished French Paralympians subsequently lit the Olympic cauldron, designed to resemble a hot air balloon, which illuminated the night with a golden glow. The Paralympic flag was then elevated into the sky, with its emblem proudly displayed atop the Arc de Triomphe, approximately three kilometers away.
Though the ceremony began at 8 p.m. local time, crowds had gathered hours in advance under a sweltering sun to secure prime viewing positions. While waiting for the festivities to begin, performers entertained audiences, and volunteers danced alongside Paralympians, proudly waving their national flags beneath a stunning orange-hued sky.
According to organizers, over 2 million of the 2.8 million total tickets for the various Paralympic events have been sold. Tony Estanguet, the president of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, referred to the Paralympians as “immense champions,” expressing honor in their presence during the celebration.
The first medals to be awarded will take place on Thursday in disciplines including taekwondo, table tennis, swimming, and track cycling, with athletes categorized by levels of impairment to ensure fair competition. The closing ceremony is scheduled to occur at the Stade de France, the national stadium. This report incorporates information from The Associated Press.
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