The 2024 Paralympic Games officially commenced in Paris on August 28, 2024, with a groundbreaking opening ceremony that celebrated diversity, inclusivity, and athletic excellence. The ceremony, directed by Thomas Jolly, featured a unique parade of 4,400 athletes from 184 delegations down the Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde, marking the first time such an event has been held outdoors in the heart of a host city.The ceremony, attended by 45,000 spectators who were able to watch for free, promised ‘performances that have never been seen before’. Jolly emphasized the focus on challenging perceptions of disability, stating, ‘We want to get out of the clichés of ‘heroizing’ people with disabilities’. Earlier in the day, 70-year-old martial arts star Jackie Chan carried the Paralympic flame through Paris, adding star power to the event.The Games will feature competition across 22 sports over the next 11 days, with new events added to provide more opportunities for female athletes and those with high-support needs. Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, expressed enthusiasm about the expected large crowds, noting, ‘Having that atmosphere is important for us, as our ambition is to be perceived and understood as the most transformative sports event on the planet’.With nearly 2 million of the 2.5 million available tickets already sold, the Paris Paralympics are on track to become the second-best attended in history, behind only London 2012. The competition begins on Thursday, with medals to be awarded in taekwondo, table tennis, and track cycling.Among the athletes to watch are Indian para shooter Avani Lekhara, American cyclist Oksana Masters, and French kayaker Edina Müller. The Games will also feature inspiring stories, such as 13-year-old British swimmer Iona Winniforth, ranked world number one in the 100m breaststroke, and Valentina Petrillo, set to become the first transgender woman to compete at the Paralympics.As the Paralympic flame, lit in Stoke Mandeville, England – the birthplace of the Paralympic movement – completed its journey across France, it symbolized not just the start of the Games, but a broader message of inclusion and the transformative power of sport. Rachida Dati, former French Minister of Culture, praised the organizing teams, saying, ‘You have done something beyond everything. You embody all that France loves’.
Key points
- The 2024 Paralympic Games opened in Paris with a unique outdoor ceremony featuring 4,400 athletes from 184 delegations.
- Nearly 2 million tickets have been sold, potentially making it the second-best attended Paralympics in history.
- The Games aim to challenge perceptions of disability and promote inclusivity through sport.
- Competition begins Thursday across 22 sports, with new events added for greater inclusivity.
