The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony that featured athletes parading from the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde.
This event marked the first time the Paralympics opening ceremony was held outside of a stadium in Paris.
The main ceremony took place at Place de la Concorde on a perfect summer evening, with an estimated 65,000 people attending.
Spectators enjoyed the parade for free, while the main event was ticketed and held in the heart of the city.
The Games, starting Thursday, are hosted in France for the first time, featuring about 4,400 athletes from a record 168 delegations.
They will compete in 22 sports for 549 gold medals.
Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, described the opening as the beginning of a “Paralympic revolution,” celebrating the athletes’ resilience and advocating for societal change to embrace people with disabilities fully.
Artistic director Thomas Jolly promised a ceremony showcasing Paralympic athletes and the values they represent.
The choice of Place de la Concorde symbolized Paris’s commitment to inclusivity.
The parade under golden skies contrasted with the Olympic Games’ rainy boat procession on the River Seine. Paralympic swimmer Theo Curin featured in the opening segment, transporting athletes in a decorated taxi.
Artistic displays with performers with disabilities highlighted societal inclusivity issues.
The Patrouille de France aerial display released Tricolore-colored smoke, and French singer Christine and the Queens performed on stage.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the ParalympicsGB delegation, with athletes Lucy Shuker and Terry Bywater carrying the British flag.
French sprinter Nantenin Keita and Para-triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant carried the French flag amid a rendition of “Les Champs-Elysees.”
After speeches by Estanguet and IPC President Andrew Parsons, French President Emmanuel Macron officially opened the Games. Parsons emphasized the need for further advancements in disability inclusion.
The ceremony concluded with the lighting of the Paralympic flame by flagbearers Keita and Hanquinquant, along with Charles Antoine Kouakou, Fabien Lamirault, and Elodie Lorandi, followed by a dramatic fireworks display at the Jardin des Tuileries.
