On Wednesday, 28 August 2024, Paris will make history by hosting its first-ever Paralympic Games, kicking off the event with a breathtaking opening ceremony right in the heart of the French capital. Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Meet the Paralympic Squad representing South Africa in Paris
According to the Olympics official website, at 8pm local time, the iconic Place de la Concorde and Champs-Elysées will come alive as 4400 Paralympic athletes from 184 delegations gather to celebrate the start of 11 days of thrilling competition, beginning on 29 August 2024.
Tonight’s opening ceremony promises to be a historic event under the open sky, with an expected crowd of around 65 000 spectators ready to witness the moment.
Under the direction of Thomas Jolly, the Artistic Director for the Paris 2024 Ceremonies, the event will spotlight the Paralympic athletes and the values they represent, promising an unforgettable celebration of spirit and resilience.
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.’
Titled ‘Paradox,’ the performance draws inspiration from its iconic La Place de la Concorde setting.
The ceremony, held outside a stadium, will feature athletes parading down the famous avenue, ending with a celebration and official opening of the Paralympic Games at the iconic square before thousands of spectators.
According to the president of Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet: ‘This ceremony at the heart of the city is a strong symbol illustrating our ambition to position the issue of inclusion for people with disabilities at the heart of our society.’
Estanguet highlights the ongoing efforts to engage Parisians with disability sport, especially as 300 000 visitors are expected for the Games – half the number for the Olympics.
With seven events already sold out, organisers are expanding seating at the Eiffel Tower arena and Château de Versailles to accommodate more fans.
Filling the 80 000-capacity Stade de France for track and field remains a key focus.
The Paralympic Torch Relay is making its way across France, heading towards Paris for the opening ceremony on Wednesday night.
The flame will burn brightly until the games conclude on September 8th.
Who will be performing at Paralympics 2024 opening ceremony?
As with the 2024 Olympics, the performers for the Paralympics Opening Ceremony remain under wraps. Thomas Jolly will direct the artistic vision, Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman will handle the choreography and Victor Le Masne will compose the music.
Team SA:
Team South Africa, featuring 37 athletes, settled into the Athletes Village last week.
At the previous Paralympics in Tokyo, South Africa earned seven medals, including four golds.
Notably, Ntando Mahlangu, who secured two gold medals in Tokyo, is missing this year due to recovery from a car crash.
Another gold medalist, Anrune Weyers, has retired.
However, Pieter du Preez, who won gold in the men’s Road Time Trial, is back in action and eager to compete in the post-Covid-19 era.
When and where to watch:
South Africans can catch the live broadcast of the Paralympics opening ceremony on SuperSport.
Tune in to Channel 217 or Grandstand (Channel 201) at 7:55pm to witness the inspiring event as it unfolds.
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Picture: Paralympic.org
