Paralympics 2024 opening ceremony LIVE: Paris prepares for start of Games with athletes parade
The ceremony features athletes participating at the Games and is taking place in the heart of the French captial
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Paris is back in the spotlight this evening as the city hosts the opening ceremony of the Paralympics Games. Fresh off the heels of a blockbuster fortnight of Olympic action, the Paralympic athletes now take centre stage as they compete for medals, records and glory in front of huge crowds watching on around the globe.
The French captial is expected to be packed once again with up to 65,000 spectators expected to attend the first act of the Games which sees 4,400 athletes from 168 delegations parade down the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysees in the heart of Paris ahead of what is sure to be 11 days of intense competition.
The opening ceremony’s artistic director Thomas Jolly has revealed the spectacle will “showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values that they embody”. He has promised “performances that have never been seen before” and claims that the show will “unite spectators and television audiences worldwide around the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games”.
Follow all the latest updates from the Paralympics opening ceremony with our live blog below:
Paralympics opening ceremony
The sun is starting to set and the music and dancing on stage is starting to ramp up. There’s a party atmosphere developing with dance music cutting through.
A fly past!
The French equivalent of the Red Arrows zoom overhead with coloured smoke billowing out of the back of their planes. Red, white and blue in the tri-colour formation of the French flag.
The crowd enjoyed that and all cheer as the plane cross over the stage.
Paralympics opening ceremony
The opening ceremony is titled Paradox and has inclusivity as it theme.
It shines a light on the place of disabled people in society, they struggles they face and how they overcome challenges due to their disabilities.
Paralympics opening ceremony
Take a look at the Phryge taxi that Theo Curin was driving. It’s quite something:
Paralympics opening ceremony
President of the International Paralympic Committee gives his thoughts
Andrew Parsons said: “The concept was always that [by staging the event] in the Champs Elysées and the Place de la Concorde it’s like the city’s embracing the Paralympic athletes, the Paralympic movement.
“We are seeing it as a gigantic hug for our athletes and this cannot be more positive. We cannot fix centuries of neglect in seven years of preparation but we can accelerate [the amelioration of the lives of people living with disability]”
Paralympics opening ceremony
Thie video host was French Paralympic swimmer Théo Curin. As the dancers, dressed in outfits of black and white, finish their routines Curin arrives in his taxi, strides up the steps and cheers:
“Welcome to Paris!”
We’re well underway now.
Which sports feature at the Paralympics?
There are 22 sports in the Paralympic programme:
- Blind football
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para-archery
- Para-athletics
- Para-badminton
- Para-canoe
- Para-cycling
- Para-equestrian
- Para-judo
- Para-powerlifting
- Para-rowing
- Para-swimming
- Para-table tennis
- Para-taekwondo
- Para-triathlon
- Shooting Para-sport
- Sitting volleyball
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair fencing
- Wheelchair rugby
- Wheelchair tennis
Paralympics opening ceremony
The ceremony opens up with a short film about the design of the mascots.
French host Théo is driving a taxi with lots of mascot plushies stuck to the outside and has a chat with some of the French Paralympians en route to the Place de la Concorde.
President Macron then gives a quick introduction and on the stage pianos and dancers are brought out for the next phase of the performance.
Which new sports are at the Paralympics?
Unlike the past two editions of the Games, no new sports are included in the Paris programme.
However, the badminton and taekwondo programmes have been expanded and there are a record number of medal events for women.
Tanni Grey-Thompson predicts ParalympicsGB medal tally
Tanni Grey-Thompson has given her prediction on how well ParalympicsGB will perform at these Games and claims they will come away with between 100-140 medals.
Speaking on Channel 4 ahead of the opening ceremony she explained that if Great Britain finish inside the top five it’ll be a fantastic achievement for the Games.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments