The Paris Paralympics have officially kicked off with a vibrant opening ceremony in the heart of the French capital. The event took place at Place de la Concorde, away from the main stadium, just like the Olympics opening ceremony in July. French President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony, which marked the beginning of 11 days of intense competition.
The Paralympics will feature both new and seasoned Paralympians competing in many of the same venues that hosted Olympic sports. A total of 18 out of 35 Olympic venues will be utilized, including the Grand Palais and La Defense Arena. Ticket sales have picked up significantly since the Olympics, with over 2 million out of 2.5 million available tickets sold and several venues already sold out.
In addition to showcasing impressive athletic talent, the Paralympics also serve a larger purpose of raising awareness and advocating for disabled individuals. International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons emphasized the importance of putting disabled people back on the global agenda and hopes that the Paris Paralympics will have a positive impact on how individuals with disabilities are perceived worldwide.
Overall, the Paris Paralympics are set to be an exciting and impactful event, highlighting the incredible abilities of Paralympic athletes and advocating for greater inclusion and recognition for individuals with disabilities on a global scale.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
