Inauguration of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris

The 2024 Paralympic Games officially commenced on Wednesday, August 28, commencing with an opening ceremony shortly after the conclusion of the Summer Olympics held in Paris.

Over 4,000 athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities will compete in 22 sports over the next 11 days. Unlike the Olympic opening ceremony, which featured a parade on the Seine River, the Paralympic Games will showcase a procession of athletes along the Champs-Élysées, culminating in a ceremony at the Place de la Concorde.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director who also led the Olympic ceremony, stated that the event will highlight the athletes and the values they represent, promising performances that have never been seen before. Organizers reported that more than two million tickets have been sold for the competitions.

The first medals will be awarded on Thursday in taekwondo, table tennis, and track cycling. Athletes are categorized based on their level of disability to ensure fairness in competition. Only two sports, goalball and boccia, do not have an equivalent in the Olympics.

Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, noted that the expected crowds in Paris will be significant for the athletes, most of whom competed in front of empty stands during the pandemic-affected Tokyo 2020 Games.

The opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games will be available on USA Network and will be streamed live on Peacock and NBC Olympics starting at 12 PM Dallas time, with the ceremony beginning at 1 PM.

The Games will mark a record participation of 4,400 athletes from 167 countries, in addition to a team of refugees and 96 neutral athletes. The inclusion of 168 delegations surpasses the previous record of 164 set during the London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The representation of women at these Games is noteworthy, with 1,983 female athletes participating, accounting for 45% of the total. This figure exceeds the previous high of 1,846 women noted during the Tokyo Games.

China is expected to have the largest delegation with 282 athletes, followed by Brazil and France. A total of 35 countries will see a record number of female athletes competing, with 27 having more women than men in their teams.

This edition of the Paralympic Games aims to be the most accessible in history, with broadcasters in over 160 countries committing to cover the events. YouTube will also provide around 1,400 hours of live streaming of the sports and ceremonies.

The competitions are set to take place in several historic venues, including the Bercy Arena (wheelchair basketball), the Palace of Versailles (equestrian), and Roland Garros (wheelchair tennis), among others. This year’s Games will feature a total of 549 medal events across 22 sports held over 11 days.