Paralympic Games opening ceremony
Thomas Jolly, the Artistic Director for the Ceremonies across the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024, sheds light on what will be a historic ceremony. Jolly said that it is “first and foremost a marvellous source of inspiration and firmly stated that the performances to be expected will be ‘something people have not seen like this’. With sports athletes walking down the famous Champs Elysees and the opening ceremony taking place at Place de la Concorde, it is definitely going to be an excellent, none the less celebration of the Paralympic values and the athletes who create them.
“This ceremony in the very heart of the capital is a representation of our goal to support our country which is hosting its first Paralympic Games to put the cause of people with disabilities in the very centre of society,” added Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet. This choice of holding the ceremony out of the stadium also points to the idea of making the event open to the people and turning one of the most popular avenues in the world into a stage for the athletes and a symbol of one nation and diversity.
Paralympics 2024
Jitske Visser, a Paralympic wheelchair basketball medallist and President of the IPC Athletes’ Commission, expressed her excitement about the ceremony: “What an incredible moment for our athletes, who will be part of an Opening Ceremony, on the world’s most famous avenue, surrounded by all the charm of Paris.”
What Are the Paralympic Games?
The Paralympic Games are an international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, held every four years shortly after the Olympic Games. The Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the athletes compete in a wide range of sports, divided into categories based on their disabilities. The aim of the Paralympic Games is to empower athletes with disabilities to achieve sporting excellence and inspire the world through their achievements.
Since their inception in 1960 in Rome, the Paralympics have grown in both scale and influence, fostering greater awareness and inclusion for people with disabilities. Over the years, they have become a powerful platform for challenging perceptions, promoting accessibility, and highlighting the capabilities of athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments.
Paralympics Games Paris 2024
As Paris opens its doors to the Paralympic Games for the first time, the spirit of the Games will undoubtedly shine brightly across the city, uniting people through sport and highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion. With 11 days of competition ahead, the world will have the opportunity to witness the extraordinary abilities of these athletes and celebrate their determination, resilience, and sportsmanship.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games promise to be a historic event not only for the athletes competing but for the entire global community, as they continue to push boundaries and change the narrative around disability and sport.
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