Greater than 4,000 athletes with bodily, visible, and mental impairments will compete in 22 sports activities till September 8.
Hundreds of athletes paraded down the Champs-Elysées, watched by about 50,000 individuals from stands constructed across the iconic Place de la Concorde.
Accessibility for wheelchair athletes was ensured with asphalt strips laid alongside the avenue and over the sq.. In opposition to the backdrop of a setting solar, fighter planes left red-white-and-blue vapors within the colours of the French nationwide flag.
Athletes entered the sq. in alphabetical order. Some delegations had been giant, like Brazil with over 250 athletes, whereas others had been small, similar to Barbados and Myanmar with only a few.
Followers gathered hours forward beneath a scorching solar to safe prime spots. Performers entertained the gang on stage, and volunteers danced alongside Paralympians, who waved their nationwide flags because the sky turned orange.
Ukraine’s delegation obtained a loud cheer, and a few within the crowd stood to applaud them. The French delegation arrived final, met by roars and singing from the gang. French songs like “Que Je T’aime” by Johnny Hallyday crammed the air.
Fortunate Love, a French singer who misplaced his left arm at beginning, carried out with wheelchair-bound artists. The Obelisk lit up within the colours of the French flag because the nationwide anthem performed.
Organizers aimed for an additional spectacular present. In contrast to the rain-soaked Olympic opening ceremony that includes a ship parade on the Seine River, the Paralympic ceremony stayed on land. Greater than 2 million of the two.Eight million tickets for numerous Paralympic occasions have been offered.
Tony Estanguet, the president of the Olympic and Paralympic Video games, mentioned: “immense champions who we have now the respect of being with tonight.”
The primary medals had been to be handed out on Thursday in taekwondo, desk tennis, swimming, and observe biking. Athletes are grouped by impairment ranges to make sure a degree enjoying discipline. Solely two sports activities, goalball and boccia, do not have an Olympic equal.
Worldwide Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons famous the massive crowds anticipated in Paris would imply so much to the athletes, lots of whom competed in entrance of empty stands on the Tokyo Paralympics three years in the past as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned: “as a strong drive for good” amid ongoing international tensions.
The closing ceremony might be held at Stade de France, the nationwide stadium.
