Spectacular opening ceremony ignites Paris Paralympics

A spectacular opening ceremony marked the start of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as athletes paraded along the iconic Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde in glorious conditions.

As with the Olympic Games, the Paralympics opening ceremony was held outside of a stadium for the first time in the French capital.

The main ceremony was staged at Place de la Concorde, on a perfect summer evening in the heart of the city, following a parade along the Avenue des Champs-Elysees from the iconic Arc de Triomphe.

Organisers estimated 65,000 people would be present, with spectators able to watch the parade for free before the ticketed open-air event.

The first of 11 days of sporting action takes place on Thursday as France hosts a summer Paralympic Games for the first time.

About 4,400 athletes from a record 168 delegations are set to take part in the 22 Paralympic sports, competing for a total of 549 gold medals in Paris.

Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, said the opening ceremony represented the start of “the Paralympic revolution” led by the athletes.