Joyful Ceremony Kickstarts Paris 2024 Paralympics

By: Gyang Dakwo

French president Emmanuel Macron declared the Paralympic Games open on Wednesday after a glorious ceremony in which competitors were celebrated by joyful volunteers and spectators on a sweet summer night.

The event on the Champs Elysees and the Place de la Concorde was the first Paralympics curtain-raiser to be held outside a stadium.

Security was tight, with some 15,000 law enforcement officers on site, but there was a light summer feeling to the evening as the sun slowly set on the French capital.

“Dear athletes, welcome to the country of love and revolution. Rest assured, tonight, no Storming of the Bastille, no guillotine, because tonight the most beautiful revolution starts — the paralympic revolution,” Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said in his speech.

“It’s a sweet revolution that will change all of us deeply.”

The live show started at the foot of the obelisk in Place de la Concorde with Canadian musician, songwriter, and producer Chilly Gonzales on the piano.

The 168-delegation athletes’ parade started from the bottom of the Champs Elysees in a festive atmosphere with volunteers cheering and dancing.

Last month’s Olympics opening ceremony was held in pouring rain which failed to dampen the enthusiasm of spectators along the Seine River.