A summary of today's developments
Medal hopefuls from 168 delegations paraded through Paris for the French capital’s first Paralympic Games opening ceremony. Tens of thousands of spectators surrounded the host city’s largest public square, Place de la Concorde, to witness the launch while an estimated 300 million across the globe tuned in on television.
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron were among the audience.
Five French athletes – Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Fabien Lamirault, Elodie Lorandi, Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keïta – had the honour of lighting the Paralympic cauldron.
Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, told the ceremony: “At a time of growing conflict and exclusion, let sport bring us together. “Let sport serve as a powerful force for good. Eleven days of sensational sport to enjoy together. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to champion your country’s rich diversity and celebrate the best of Paris, France and humanity. Let us open our minds wide.” He says the Place de la Concorde was central to the French revolution and tonight stages the start of another revolution. “Liberté, égalité, fraternité!”
The 17th Paralympic Games began under blue skies then lit up the night as Paris made a powerful start in extending to disability sport the same energy and joy that has so far characterised its historic summer.
In the coming 11 days there will be new heroes made, new stories told and, just perhaps, the possibility of a legacy of positive change for people with disability. But in front of a crowd of 35,000 spectators at the Place de la Concorde, a ceremony threaded together by bold, expressive dance and featuring a parade of 128 often jubilant competing nations created a party atmosphere, and an image of a country still “en fete”.
As the head of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons called for a “revolution of inclusion” in his speech and the president of Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet, praised the fans, “la public complètement fou”, there was space left for the French president Emmanuel Macron only to perform the briefest of ceremonial functions, declaring the Games open, as the energy of night swarmed elsewhere.
Unlike the Olympic opening ceremony there were no shots of sodden performers to spoil the party. Temperatures of 30C and cloudless skies meant that everything passed without disruption and the tribunes were full. By the time the French delegation arrived in the arena past 10pm to the sounds of Champs-Élysées and various other pieces of chanson that remain in the collective memory, the spirit of the summer of 2024 was once again in full effect.
Involving 500 performers, including dancers, pop stars, furry revolutionary hats and the ubiquitous DJ, the title of the ceremony was Paradox, the theme a journey from Discord to Concord. As with every aspect of Paris 2024 this was an idea pinned to the geography and history of the French capital.
