On Wednesday 28 August, Paris will host the Paralympic Games for the first time and they will begin with a spectacular opening ceremony in the heart of the city.
At 8 p.m., 4,400 Paralympic athletes from 184 delegations will line up on the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées to kick off the eleven days of competition, which begin on August 29.
Under the direction of Thomas Jolly, the show will “focus on the Paralympic athletes and the values they embody,” said the artistic director of the ceremonies for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
Jolly describes the concept as “above all a great source of inspiration” and promises “unprecedented performances” in a “spectacle that will unite spectators and television audiences around the world with the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games”.
The ceremony will take place outside the stadium and will feature a parade of athletes through the famous avenue, culminating in a solemn ceremony in the iconic square in front of thousands of spectators.
“What an incredible moment for our athletes, who will be part of a historic opening ceremony on the most famous avenue in the world, surrounded by all the charm of Paris,” enthuses Jitske VisserParalympic medalist in wheelchair basketball, Chair of the IPC Athletes’ Commission and participant in Paris 2024.
“This ceremony in the heart of the city is a strong symbol of our ambition to use the first Paralympic Games in our country to put the issue of inclusion of people with disabilities at the heart of our society,” said Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024.
