Paralympics 2024 opens, kicking off 10 days of exciting competition

On the morning of August 29, the 2024 Paralympic Games officially opened in France, starting 10 days of exciting competition for thousands of athletes.

The Vietnamese sports delegation parades during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympics with flag bearer Le Van Cong (left, front row) - Photo: REUTERS

Like the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 2024 Paralympic opening ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead, the event will be held on the Champs Elysées and Place de la Concorde.

The ceremony began with the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet, President of the International Para Sports Commission (IPC) Andrew Parson, along with many leaders, sports ministers of various countries, government officials and representatives of international organizations.

Security has been tightened for the Paralympic opening ceremony with the presence of 15,000 police. The artistic program of the 2024 Paralympic opening ceremony is considered special under the hands of Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman.

Just like the 2024 Olympics, the Paralympic torch will be lit on a balloon. This is also special, showing the creativity of the host country France. Athletes Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Nantenin Keita, Fabien Lamirault, Alexis Hanquinquant and Elodie Lorandi join hands to light the Paralympic torch.

Athletes Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Nantenin Keita, Fabien Lamirault, Alexis Hanquinquant and Elodie Lorandi join hands to light the 2024 Paralympic torch - Photo: REUTERS

Just like the 2024 Olympics, the 2024 Paralympic torch is lit on a floating balloon - Photo: REUTERS

The welcoming sound and light show and choreography performed by disabled artists in vibrant, colorful costumes, along with dancers dressed in black, on a white stage, highlighted the event's theme: Inclusion Day for People with Disabilities and Mixed Emotions.

There were about 500 artists attending the opening ceremony, including names such as Chilly Gonzales, Christine and the Queens, Edith Piaf... A festive atmosphere was maintained throughout the opening ceremony with cheers and grand music.

For 3 hours, the center of the City of Light transformed into a grand stage and the event was broadcast live on France 2, allowing 300 million viewers around the world to watch the opening ceremony live. Not to mention, more than 50,000 spectators in the stands at Concorde Square, along with 15,000 spectators along the Elysées Avenue, were able to immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere and see with their own eyes the quintessence of world sports for the disabled.

A spectacular fireworks display at Concorde Square during the 2024 Paralympic Games opening ceremony - Photo: REUTERS

The 2024 Paris Paralympics, also the 17th Paralympic Games, officially opened with a vibrant parade of 168 athlete delegations from countries and territories, led by the Afghan sports delegation and ending with a powerful force from the host country France.

There are a total of more than 4,400 athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Paralympics, including 1,983 female athletes. These are numbers that have never been achieved in the 60-year history of the Paralympic Games. China has always topped the medal rankings at every Paralympics since Athens 2004 and is also the sports delegation with the largest number of athletes at this year's Olympics, with 282 athletes.

At the 2024 Paralympic Games, there will be 349 sets of medals awarded. Athletes will compete in 22 sports. The flag bearer for the Vietnamese sports delegation at the opening ceremony was weightlifter Le Van Cong.

Host country France with 239 athletes, although only third after China and Brazil, is the leading country in the European Union (EU) with the largest number of athletes participating in this year's Olympics.

A performance at the 2024 Paralympic opening ceremony - Photo: REUTERS

Singer Christine and the Queens performs at the Paralympic opening ceremony - Photo: REUTERS

After the soft, unique and vibrant choreography performed by disabled artists and dancers according to the ideas of Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman, the festival became more subdued with a video sharing the experiences, concerns, and aspirations of disabled people. Speaking on the opening night, Mr. Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, encouraged the athletes and emphasized: "Like Olympic athletes, with each of your victories, an entire country will be proud together. But you are stronger in that with each of your victories, an entire country will change. With each of your victories, the world will progress. Because every emotion you make us experience carries a message that will never fade: your power is limitless, so stop imposing on yourself. This is the Paralympic revolution". Andrew Parson, President of the International Para Sports Commission (IPC), reminded: "Athletes are not here to participate, but to compete and break world records. They are also here to surpass their own glory. They are there to challenge discrimination, change behavior and redefine the boundaries of what people think is possible." Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, affirmed that "if the Olympic Games are the first leg, the Paralympics are the second leg" with an appeal no less than the Olympics.

The Vietnamese Paralympic Sports Delegation to the 2024 Paris Paralympics has 14 members, including 4 delegation officials, 3 coaches and 7 athletes, all from Ho Chi Minh City. They are athletes Le Van Cong, Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan, Dang Thi Linh Phuong, Nguyen Binh An (weightlifting), Le Tien Dat, Do Thanh Hai (swimming), Pham Nguyen Khanh Minh (athletics). The delegation's goal is to win 1-2 medals. Hope is placed on the shoulders of athlete Le Van Cong - who won a gold medal at the 2016 Paralympics and a silver medal at the 2020 Paralympics.

Tuoitre.vn

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