Anticipation Builds as the Paralympic Games Open in Paris
PARIS (AP) – The exhilarating journey of the Paralympic Games commences this Wednesday as approximately 4,400 athletes with disabilities prepare to vie for a total of 549 medals across 22 distinct sports over the span of 11 days in the magnificent city of Paris. The French capital, having recently served as the host for the Olympic Games, will again act as an illustrious backdrop, with numerous Olympic venues repurposed to accommodate Paralympic events.
The grandeur of the historic Place de la Concorde, which previously showcased skateboarding, breaking, and 3×3 basketball during the Olympics, will now serve as the site for the opening ceremony. Speaking to The Associated Press, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons emphasized the significance of the location, stating, “We are at the heart of the city. The symbolism behind this is like the city of Paris is giving our athletes a gigantic hug.”
Iconic locations will also host diverse events, as equestrian competitions return to the opulent Château de Versailles, while the Grand Palais transitions from fencing to wheelchair fencing. The venue adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, which featured beach volleyball during the Olympic Games, will host blind soccer, a modified version of the sport for visually impaired athletes.
Alexis Hanquinquant, a champion in para triathlon, remarked, “We have some monstrous iconic sites, and we are going to have an eyeful. Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I believe we will witness some exceptional Paralympic Games.”
The Paralympic Games will feature 22 sports, of which two do not have Olympic counterparts: goalball and boccia. Goalball, designed for athletes who are blind or visually impaired, involves rolling a ball containing bells towards the opposing team’s goal, while boccia requires players to skillfully position leather balls adjacent to a smaller target known as the jack. In a significant departure from the previous Paralympic Games held in Tokyo, ten new medal events have been introduced to promote greater opportunities for female athletes and participants with high-support needs.
Around 2 million tickets have been sold out of a total of 2.5 million available, which would mark the second-highest attendance record for a Paralympic Games, following the 2012 London Paralympics. The Paralympic flame was ignited in Stoke Mandeville, a village in northwestern England recognized as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, and will travel under the English Channel, culminating in the lighting of the cauldron during the opening ceremony.
With Parisians returning from their summer holidays, there is a palpable excitement in the city, providing residents an opportunity to partake in the thrills of the Paralympics after the recent Olympic festivities. The competition officially commences on Thursday, featuring medals up for grabs in various disciplines, including para taekwondo, para table tennis, para swimming, and para cycling on the track.
Notable athletes will be defending their titles, including India’s Avani Lekhara, who made history as the first Indian woman to secure two medals in a single Paralympic edition and aims to retain her 10-meter air rifle gold. Additionally, Oksana Masters, an American multi-sport specialist, will compete to add to her impressive medal count, while Egyptian para powerlifter Sherif Osman seeks his fourth consecutive gold.
Among the remarkable narratives within these Games, Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo will mark a significant milestone as the first transgender woman to compete in the Paralympics, and swimmer Ali Truwit competes a year after suffering a shark attack that resulted in the loss of her lower leg. Furthermore, 16-year-old David Kratochvil, who lost his sight a decade ago, emerges as a hopeful contender for the Czech Republic after excelling in the pool.
The upcoming two weeks are anticipated to be filled with inspiring stories and fierce competitions, as the Paralympic athletes take center stage and embrace the celebration of their extraordinary talents and perseverances.
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