The Paris Paralympics kicked off on Wednesday with a spectacular opening ceremony in the heart of the French capital, marking the beginning of 11 days of intense competition.
For the first time in Paralympic history, the ceremony was held away from the main stadium, taking place in the iconic Place de la Concorde.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony, which was blessed with balmy weather, a stark contrast to the heavy rain that marred the Olympic opening ceremony in July. The event culminated in the lighting of the cauldron, which has become a popular attraction since its debut at the Olympics.
A new generation of Paralympians will join seasoned veterans in competing in many of the same venues that hosted Olympic sports. A total of 18 out of 35 Olympic venues will be used for the Paralympics, including the Grand Palais, La Defense Arena, and Stade de France.
Despite initial sluggish ticket sales, over two million out of 2.5 million available tickets have been sold, with several venues sold out. The Paralympic flame was lit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, the birthplace of the Games, and brought to France through the Channel Tunnel before touring French cities.
Theatre director Thomas Jolly, who oversaw both the Olympics and Paralympics opening ceremonies, highlighted the symbolism of holding the Paralympics ceremony in the city center, citing the lack of accessibility in Paris’ Metro system for wheelchair users.
“Putting Paralympic athletes in the heart of the city is already a political marker in the sense that the city is not sufficiently adapted to every handicapped person,” Jolly said.
Organizers have made efforts to improve accessibility, including providing adapted taxis and buses for wheelchair users.
China, a Paralympic powerhouse, will send a strong squad, aiming to replicate their dominance in Tokyo three years ago. Host nation France hopes to finish in the top eight of the medals table, while Ukraine, despite the challenges faced due to the ongoing war, has sent a team of 140 athletes.
The Paralympics will also feature new stars, including American sprinter/high jumper Ezra Frech, and seasoned veterans like Iranian sitting volleyball legend Morteza Mehrzad.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons hopes the Paris edition will raise awareness about disability issues and put them back on the global agenda.
“We believe that we need people with disability to be put back on the global agenda,” Parsons said. “We do believe people with disability have been left behind. There is very little debate about persons with disability.”
