Quick facts about the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, Paris hosted its first-ever Paralympic Games and begun with a spectacular Opening Ceremony in the heart of France's capital.
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At 20:00 local time, Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées played host to 4,400 Paralympic athletes from 184 delegations as they celebrated the commencement of 11 days of competition, starting 29 August.
Led by Thomas Jolly, the spectacle "showcased the Paralympic athletes and the values that they embody", said the Artistic Director for the Ceremonies across the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024.
Describing the concept as "first and foremost a magnificent source of inspiration" Jolly promises "performances that have never been seen before" in a "spectacle that will unite spectators and television audiences worldwide around the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games”.
The ceremony again took place outside the confines of a stadium, with athletes parading down the famous avenue, culminating in a celebration and official opening of the Paralympic Games at 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 world’s most famous avenue, surrounded by all the charm of Paris," enthused Jitske Visser, Paralympic wheelchair basketball medallist, IPC Athletes’ Commission President and competitior at Paris 2024.
"This ceremony at the heart of the city is a strong symbol illustrating our ambition to capitalise on our country hosting its first-ever Paralympic Games to position the issue of inclusion for people with disabilities at the heart of our society," said Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 President.
Quick facts about the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
4,400 athletes
184 delegations
65,000 spectators
More than 300 million viewers
A parade down Champs-Elysées to Place de La Concorde
Four stages
Unique artistic performances
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29 August: Preview and athletes to watch
The first day of competition starts with medal events in Para Cycling Track, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, and Para Taekwondo.
Star names include ParalympicsGB’s most decorated athlete, Sarah Storey, who will start a ninth consecutive Games looking to add to her 17 gold medals, from day one. Storey secured three titles at Tokyo 2020, and the defence of the first starts today in the Para Cycling Track Time Trial C5 (from 11:00 local time).
Fan-favourite wheelchair rugby starts with the preliminary rounds of the mixed gender event starting at 10:30 with a mouth-watering clash between Australia and Great Britain.
Ryley Batt returns to the fray looking to return to the top of the podium with his Aussie team after a fourth-place finish at Tokyo 2020, following top spots at London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Meanwhile, USA take on Canada in a North America showdown (12:30) with Chuck Aoki eyeing a longed-for top spot after two silvers and a bronze. Hosts France face Denmark, with the crowd no doubt ready to rattle the Champ de Mars Arena to its foundations once again.
30 August: Preview and athletes to watch
Day two and Para Athletics and Shooting Para Sport join the first day's medal events of Para Cycling Track, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, and Para Taekwondo in distributing shiny hardware to athletes.
Tanguy de la Forest looks set to continue his supreme form from 2023 in which the Frenchman blew away the opposition at the Lima 2023 World Shooting Para Sport Championships, winning four gold medals and a bronze, including a world record in the R4 mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2, which just so happens to be one of the events today, starting at 12:30.
Law student Avani Lekhara from India will also begin the defence of her 10m air rifle SH1 with qualifications at 09:00, with the final at 11:45.