Paris gears up for the 2024 Paralympics, hosting 4,400 Para athletes in 23 disciplines. The Place de la Concorde will host the first-ever outdoor opening ceremony on August 28.
With the excitement of the Summer 2024 Olympics now fading, Paris is turning its attention to the next major global sporting event: the Paralympics, set to take place from August 28 to September 8, 2024. This prestigious event will bring together approximately 4,400 Para athletes from around the world, competing in 23 different disciplines.
One of the most significant and innovative aspects of the Paris 2024 Paralympics is the historic decision to hold the opening ceremony outside a traditional stadium. The iconic Place de la Concorde, a historic square that hosted skateboarding, breaking, and 3x3 basketball during the Olympics, will now serve as the stage for this groundbreaking event. The square has been abuzz with construction and preparation since the conclusion of the Olympics on August 11, readying itself to welcome athletes and spectators alike on August 28.
Paris 2024 President, Tony Estanguet, has expressed his commitment to maintaining the energy and enthusiasm generated by the Olympics, while also using the Paralympics as a platform to address and combat disability discrimination. “We want to see how, at our level and with humility, we can contribute to changing this view of disability,” Estanguet stated, emphasizing the broader social impact of the Games.
Most of the Olympic venues will be repurposed for the Paralympics. The Palace of Versailles will host para equestrian events, the Grand Palais will welcome Wheelchair fencing, and the venue beneath the Eiffel Tower, which hosted beach volleyball, will now host Blind football—a specialized adaptation of soccer for visually impaired players.
As the city prepares for the Paralympics, security remains a top priority. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has announced the deployment of 25,000 police officers to ensure the safety and security of the event, maintaining the heightened measures that were in place during the Olympics.
The opening ceremony promises to be a spectacular and groundbreaking event, with thousands of athletes and tens of thousands of spectators gathering in the heart of Paris. The Paris 2024 Paralympics aims not only to celebrate the incredible achievements of Para athletes but also to spark a collective reflection on how society views and treats disability, which remains the leading cause of discrimination in France.
As the countdown to August 28 continues, Paris is poised to deliver an unforgettable Paralympic Games, showcasing both athletic excellence and a powerful message of inclusivity and acceptance.
Source: Euronews
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