Don’t Miss It: Paris 2024 Paralympics Kick Off August 28!
At the Opening Ceremony, 50,000 spectators can expect stunning performances and unexpected visitors.
At last, the wait is over! The International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons has described the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games opening ceremony as a “traditional ceremony in a non-traditional venue.” It is scheduled for August 28.
The Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics will occur outside of a stadium for the first time in the event’s history. Athletes worldwide competing in the Parade of Nations will have the legendary Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysees as their backdrop.
In front of 50,000 spectators, there will be stunning dance routines and unexpected performances showcasing dozens of performers with disabilities.
Para Sport Shines in the City of Light
About 4,400 athletes from an all-time high of 168 delegations will compete. In the French capital, three NPCs—Kosovo, Kiribati, and Eritrea—will compete in their first Paralympic Games.
“Every Paralympian’s heart will beat for the city of love,” a wheelchair basketball athlete Jitske Visser of the Netherlands said.
What a fantastic opportunity for our athletes to participate in a historical Opening Ceremony on the most famous avenue in the world, encircled by all of Paris’s charm.
“The Paris Summer Olympics in 2024 will provide an incredible stage for showcasing Paralympic sports to the world.”
Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony: A Global Celebration of Athleticism and Spirit
11 days of athletic competition (549 medal occasions across 22 Para sports) begin with the Opening Ceremony.
The team scheduled to march in the Opening Ceremony will be the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT). Eight athletes will compete in six sports at the RPT, including wheelchair fencing, para powerlifting, para tennis, para taekwondo, and para-athletics. The flagbearer, Guillaume Junior Atangana, will lead the group.
France, the host nation, will lead the Parade of Nations delegations. With the backing of a home crowd, sprinter Nantenin Keita and para-triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant will represent the hosts, who hope to deliver their best-ever Games performance.
“I have experienced every aspect of the sport, I have been a medallist, and I am an athlete,” Keita remarked.
“I will now fly the French flag. My career is thus truly finished. I will always be the first [to carry the flag] because this is the first Paralympics in France.
Cameron Leslie, the chosen flagbearer for New Zealand, will be making his fourth Paralympic appearance. The 34-year-old, who competes in both wheelchair rugby and parasailing, will take to the pool in Paris.
He discussed the thrill of being a part of the historic occasion during a press conference held the night before the Opening Ceremony.
“I’m merely anticipating the encounter. I am looking forward to the entire thing because I know the French put on a cool event.
“I’m walking there wide-eyed,” he exclaimed. “It will be wonderful to spend time with every person from New Zealand, and I sincerely hope absolutely nothing goes wrong.”
Gabriel Arautu, a para-swimmer, also conveyed his enthusiasm for raising Brazil’s flag at the Opening Ceremonies.
It’s amazing to be honored in this manner. I’m thrilled to have the chance to represent Brazil to the best of my abilities both in the pool and, more importantly, at the Opening Ceremony.
“My main objective is to have the most fun possible, whether it is in the pool, the Paralympic Village, or when I get to carry the flag. Being the flag bearer will be an amazing experience that I’m not sure I can adequately put into words, and hopefully, I’ll appear good on TV.
Paris 2024: A Legacy of Accessibility and Change
One of the home favorites, Hanquinquant, hopes that France will have a lasting legacy from the Games. Even before the games start, the host city has already seen improvements as a result of the Paralympics.
Six sporting venues in the city of Paris now have improved accessibility thanks to investments made by the City of Paris. Overground transportation has been improved, and schools are now easier to get to.
According to Hanquinquant, “Paris 2024 is an amazing catalyst to change French society.”
“The government is undergoing change and relocation. However, Paris 2024 promises to be an incredibly beautiful theater that will demonstrate the power of sport for everyone, including the disabled, demonstrating their ability to participate in society.
Where to Watch the Paralympics
Certainly! Here are the places to watch the Paralympics with their exact links:
- NBC – Offers coverage in the U.S. via the streaming services and network channels it provides.
- BBC – Provides live coverage and highlights in the UK via TV and online.
- Eurosport – Broadcasts across several European nations, with TV and web coverage.
- CBC – Broadcasts the Paralympics in Canada both on television and online.
- Channel 7 – Offers coverage in Australia through TV and online streaming.
- NBC Sports App – Streams events live and on-demand in the U.S.
- BBC iPlayer – Streams live coverage and on-demand content in the UK.
- Eurosport Player – Offers live streaming and replays across Europe.
- Paralympic.org – Provides live updates, highlights, and streaming options on their official website.
- YouTube – Official Paralympic channels often provide highlights and live streams.
