Just weeks after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics, the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games commenced in a groundbreaking fashion, being held outside of a stadium for the first time in history, CNN reports.
The event took place on the iconic Champs-Élysées and culminated at the renowned Place de la Concorde, marking a significant moment in the celebration of athletes with disabilities.
Featuring 140 artists, including 16 performers with disabilities, the ceremony was a vibrant display of talent and inclusivity. The parade of athletes made its way down the Champs-Élysées, showcasing a total of 168 delegations participating in the festivities. The event included musical performances from well-known artists such as French singer Christine and the Queens, who performed a moving rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Non, je ne regrette rien,” alongside piano virtuoso Chilly Gonzales and Sébastien Tellier, who played his hit “La Ritournelle.”
Following the grand parade, French Paralympians Sandrine Martinet, a triple bronze medalist in Para judo from the Rio 2016 Games, and Arnaud Assoumani, who won gold in long jump F46 at the Beijing 2008 Games, took the Paralympic Oath. The ceremony also featured a symbolic handover of the torch, where six-time Olympic medalist and Olympic flag bearer Florent Manaudou passed the torch to Michaël Jérémiasz, a wheelchair tennis Paralympic champion from the Beijing 2008 Games and now the chef de mission for the French delegation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The upcoming Paralympic Games are set to feature over 4,400 athletes competing in 22 para sports across 549 medal events over the course of 11 days. Organizers expect more than 50,000 spectators to attend the opening ceremony, with an estimated 300 million television viewers watching the celebration globally.
In his opening speech, Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, praised the event as part of “the Paralympic revolution,” highlighting the commitment to promoting inclusivity and visibility for para athletes in the sporting world.
