what will the opening ceremony be like? – Independence

2024-08-21 09:28:07

Scheduled for Wednesday August 28, the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games will take place on the Champs-Elysées and on the Place de la Concorde, in Paris. While there are many surprises, the organizers promise “unprecedented activities”.

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After the success of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, it’s time for the Paralympic Games. And for the occasion, our promise planners a “unique time”, inclusive and wonderful. However, according to artistic director Thomas Jolly, the ceremony will still take place in the center of Paris, not in the stadium as usual. A week before the start, an update on what we know about this three-hour show, which will start on Wednesday August 28 at 8pm.

A show in the heart of the city

On the evening of Wednesday August 28, the festival will open with a popular parade “close to everyone”, during which 4,400 athletes and 184 delegates from around the world will parade down the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, from the Arc de Triomphe. Among them: some 240 French athletes are expected to participate, led by the sprinter Nantenin Keita and the paratriathlete Alexis Hanquinquant, who bear the chosen standard of the French delegation.

“The official stage will then take place in the Place de la Concorde where the process and the artistic processes will also take place,” said organizers on the Paris 2024 Games website. In total, four stages will be installed on the square, from “An exhibition that will showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values ​​they embody”. assured Thomas Jolly. It will be a summary “of history, with its paradoxes”, where “we cut off the heads of our kings,” but also the arrival of “You are the most beautiful [avenue] of the world, on which we celebrated our Blues in 1998, where we gathered to celebrate on New Year’s Day”. continued the director.

Installed on stands around the square, some 65,000 spectators should be able to enjoy the show, while the team has already promised. “Unprecedented activities”. “La Concorde and the Champs-Elysées, the most beautiful avenue in the world, will be transformed into an exclusive setting which will show the Paralympic movement, in a spectacular setting,” insisted the organizers, without revealing more.

“The Crossing of Our Song”

While the content of the games remains a secret, the name of the main singer of the festival has been revealed. This is the Swedish Alexander Ekman, known throughout the world, with more than 50 creations and collaborations with the Paris Opera ballet and the Boston Ballet. Known for his great scenes, the dancer and singer ensures that this party will be an event “festival and politics”, according to the wishes of Thomas Jolly. “Together we aim to cross borders to bring them together in a more equal and inclusive world,” explains the road leader. For the first time Alexander Ekman collaborated with dancers with disabilities. “They are amazing. They have more energy than most able-bodied people, both mentally and physically. underscores the choreographer.

The music will also be composed by Victor Le Masne, the composer of the Olympic music, while the costumes will – once again – be made under the supervision of Daphné Bürki. Just like during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 26, the Olympic cauldron will be lit and moved into the Paris sky. About the actors who will perform, the mouth is closed. But if no big name is filtered at this stage, the party announced that it will be “Crossing our musical repertoire”.

An interactive presentation

Although no specific details have been released on the planned accessibility measures, the organizers assure us: inclusion will be at the heart of the Games and the opening ceremony. “In close cooperation with [le Comité international paralympique]The French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF) and the relevant authorities, Paris 2024 will ensure the integration of access to all aspects of the ceremony so that athletes, participants and spectators can fully enjoy the experience without the barrier”, they added. Beyond games, “Paris 2024 wants to leave a long and important legacy by changing the way we look at disability.”

To go this evening, some tickets are still for sale on the official Paralympic Games ticket website. The cheapest ticket reaches 150 euros and goes up to 700 euros for the best seats. On the second day of the opening ceremony, 4,400 athletes will compete for medals. The Paralympic Games will continue for ten days, until the final ceremony on Sunday September 8 at the Stade de France.