On Wednesday, August 28, Paris will host its inaugural Paralympic Games, kicking off with a magnificent Opening Ceremony in the center of the French capital.
Starting at 20:00 local time, Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées will welcome 4,400 athletes from 184 nations as they celebrate the beginning of 11 days of competition, which starts on August 29.
Artistic Director Thomas Jolly emphasized that the event will “showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values they represent.” He described the ceremony as “a truly magnificent source of inspiration” and promised “unprecedented performances” in a show that will connect audiences around the world with the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games.
This ceremony will take place outside traditional stadium settings, featuring a parade of athletes along the iconic avenue, culminating in a grand celebration and the official opening of the Paralympic Games in front of thousands of spectators.
Jitske Visser, a Paralympic wheelchair basketball medalist and President of the IPC Athletes’ Commission, expressed her excitement: “What an incredible moment for our athletes to partake in a historic Opening Ceremony on the world’s most famous avenue, surrounded by the beauty of Paris.”
Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, noted that “this ceremony in the city’s heart symbolizes our goal to use our first-ever Paralympic Games to place the issue of inclusion for individuals with disabilities at the forefront of our society.”