A three-hour sound and light extravaganza highlighting social contradictions involving 4,400 competitors from 160 countries will launch the 17th Paralympic Games on Wednesday night on the Champs Elysées and Place de la Concorde in central Paris.
An estimated worldwide TV audience of 300 million people will watch the launch show for the first Paralympic Games in Paris since their inception in Rome in 1960 and the first to take place away from the main Olympic stadium.
The event – entitled Paradox – has emerged from the same brains behind the acclaimed opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games.
Chief choreographer Alexander Ekman says he will use 150 dancers, including around 20 with disabilities who will deploy crutches, wheelchairs and adapted tricycles during their movements to a musical soundtrack composed by Victor Le Masne.
Unlike the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games along the river Seine, which was marked by stringent security for the 300,000 spectators, the Paralympics' show will allow around 15,000 people to watch for free along the Champs-Elysées and near the Louvre Museum.
However, the 35,000 spectators in stands around the Place de la Concorde will pay between 150 and 700 euros for a seat.
Raising questions
"Making the city the backdrop for this ceremony is already a paradox," artistic director Thomas Jolly told RFI. "Because the city is not completely adapted for people with disabilities.
"I think that behind the Paralympic Games, there's always the question of inclusion. The question of looking at oneself, of recognising oneself and the question of disability in our societies," Jolly added.
"You'll notice that we refer to people as “disabled” but it's often the person's situation that creates the handicap.
"For example, stepping off a curb, taking the metro – these are the situations that create disability. So I think it's important to change the way we look at things."
On the eve of the Games, regional transport boss Valérie Pécresse conceded the vast majority of the Paris metro system would remain inaccessible to people with disabilities.
Paralympians head to Paris to set sporting standards and show need for change
Outlining the reviews of city planners, Pécresse said it would take up to 20 years and between 15 and 20 billion euros to upgrade accessibility at all 320 metro stations in Paris.
"Such an effort could become the great project of this decade," Pécresse said.
Extensive feasibility studies, however, are likely to kibosh her call for a "A Metro for All".
Historic buildings are at risk of collapsing during revamps at certain central locations, say structural engineers.
Of more pressing concern will be the safety of fans travelling to and from the venues.
Security
Armed police will patrol key areas during the opening ceremony and for the rest of the Games which finish on 8 September.
On Wednesday morning, motorised traffic will barred from approaching the Champs Elysées and Place de la Concorde.
The exclusion area will be extended from 2pm in all directions and spectators will be allowed into the zone from 5pm.
Last week, the French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, said around 25,000 police officers would be deployed every day around the 17 venues that will be used during the Paralympics.
That figure will be supplemented with around 10,000 private security guards and 8,000 soldiers from the Sentinelle anti-terrorism operation.
Nearly two million tickets have been sold for the Games.
Nearly two million Paris Paralympics tickets sold as excitement builds
"It's very good news, because we'll have full stadiums for the events," said Michaël Aloïsio, one of top officials on the organising committee.
"The vast majority of French people were enthusiastic about the Olympic Games, and we're going to see the same ingredients again, the same competition venues that made such a lasting impression.
"We'll find the same openness in the city and the same atmosphere in the stadiums, with French athletes trying to go for the medals."
Perfect show for families
A breakdown of ticket sales for the Paralympic Games shows nearly 75 percent of seats have been snapped up by fans from the Ile de France – the 12,000 square kilometre area housing more than 12 million people aorund Paris.
Aloïsio added: "In terms of foreign countries, we're where we were with the Olympics, with people from Britain, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands buying most of the tickets."
On Tuesday afternoon, organisers made an eve of Games push to sell more tickets for events at all of the venues as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
“French fans who missed the chance to see the Olympics live now have a second shot,” said Andrew Parsons, boss of the International Paralympic Committee which oversees the Paralympic Games.
“Paris will be alive, tickets will be affordable. and it’s the perfect show for families.”
