What to remember about the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Last Wednesday, the city of Paris hosted the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games. Here’s a recap of the event, which was intended to be grand and inclusive, in celebration of Paralympic athletes from around the world.
Théo Curin kicks off the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
The first star of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is Théo Curin. Following the example of Zinedine Zidane for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Théo Curin launched the Paralympic Games opening ceremony by driving through the streets of Parisin a cab decorated with Phryges. He was accompanied by Charles-Antoine Kouakou (para athletics), Nélia Barbosa (para canoeing) andÉlodie Lorandi (para swimming). After the opening ceremony, Théo Curin made his way to the Place de la Concorde to officially launch the Games with a “Welcome to Paris!
Chris lights up the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
One of the highlights of the opening night was the performance by Chris, formerly Christine and the Queens. The French artist, known for her intense stage performances and inimitable style, gave new life to Édith Piaf’s iconic song, “Non, je ne regrette rien”. The artist concluded his performance with a rendition of “Born to be Alive”, a song that once again thrilled the crowd. Under a magnificent fireworks display, the ceremony came to a climactic close, to the applause of the audience.
Read also: Chris sets the Paralympic Games opening ceremony alight
The arrival of the French delegation and its flag bearers
At the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keïta had the honor of carrying the French flag. The 2 athletes embody the values of sport and resilience. Their election marks a first in their respective careers. After Tokyo 2020, where Stéphane Houdet and Sandrine Martinet carried the flag together… It’s once again a mixed duo that has been chosen. This underlines the importance of equality and collaboration within the French delegation.
See also: Paralympic Games: Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keïta are France’s flag-bearers
Lucky Love’s moving performance at the foot of the Concorde
At the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Lucky Love delivered an unforgettable performance with an adaptation of his song “Masculinity”, renamed “My Ability” for the occasion . Dressed in a white suit reminiscent of Freddie Mercury’s iconic style, he performed the ballad outdoors on the Place de la Concorde. Born without his left arm, he grew up facing the challenges of his disability. For him, the notion of “handicap” is subjective. He prefers to see himself as a person living in a different body, rather than as a disabled person.
Read also: 5 things to know about Lucky Love: the artist who performed at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games
5 athletes light the Paralympic cauldron
Alexis Hanquinquant, Nantenin Keita, Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Élodie Lorandi as well as Fabien Lamirault lit the Paralympic cauldron to launch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. In a procession to the Jardin des Tuileries, reminiscent of that of Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec at the Paris 2024 Olympics, these 5 athletes lit up the Parisian sky. The torch relay ended on Wednesday August 28 at La Concorde, where the Paralympic cauldron rose majestically, perfectly aligned with the Obelisk, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe!
