Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Kick Off with Spectacular Opening Ceremony on Iconic Champs-Élysées

Caption, The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games concluded with a dazzling fireworks display.

Article information

• Author, Editing
• Author title, BBC News Mundo

• August 29, 2024

A spectacular opening ceremony marked the start of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as athletes paraded this Wednesday through the iconic Champs-Élysées, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde.

Like the Olympic Games, the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games was held for the first time outside a stadium.

This is the first time that France is hosting a Summer Paralympic Games.

For eleven days, around 4,400 athletes will compete in 22 Paralympic sports, in search of one of the 549 gold medals in Paris.

These games set a record with 168 participating delegations.

At BBC Mundo, we show you the best images from the opening ceremony.

Caption, The French Air Force painted the sky of Paris with the colors of the French flag.

Caption, The Canadian delegation parades at the opening ceremony.

Caption, A series of artistic performances marked the beginning of the opening event.

Caption, The Colombian delegation shone with its colorful attire during the opening parade.

Caption, The opening ceremony took place at the Place de la Concorde, in the center of Paris.

Caption, Smoke in the colors of the French flag was used to mark the beginning of the ceremony.

Caption, Christine and the Queens was among the artists during the opening ceremony.

Caption, The Paralympic mascot Phryge, who has a prosthetic for running, performed at the Place de la Concorde

Caption, Unlike the Olympic Games where the Eiffel Tower was a highlight, this time it was the famous Arc de Triomphe that served as a backdrop for the opening.

Caption, French Paralympic athletes Charles Antoine Kouakou, Fabien Lamirault, Elodie Lorandi, Nantenin Keita, and Alexis Hanquinquant light the Paralympic cauldron.

Caption, The Paralympic cauldron will rise into the sky over Paris each night during the Games.

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