The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are set to make history with their first-ever Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, August 28, at 1 p.m. ET. (As per NPR). The event will be a spectacular celebration of athleticism and inclusion, taking place at two of Paris’s most iconic locations: Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées.
A Spectacle of Paralympic Spirit
According to Olympics official website, At 20:00 local time, 4,400 Paralympic athletes from 184 countries will parade down the Champs-Elysées, showcasing the Paralympic values of determination, equality, and inspiration, starting 29 August. The ceremony, led by Artistic Director Thomas Jolly, promises to be a visual feast, uniting spectators worldwide through performances that highlight the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games.
Key Facts
- Dates: August 28 – September 8, 2024
- Participating Countries: 169 (including NPA and Refugee Team)
- Athletes: Around 4,400 expected
- Events: 549 in 22 sports
- Opening Ceremony: August 28 at Place de la Concorde
- Closing Ceremony: September 8 at Stade de France
Sports
The 22 sports featured at the Paris 2024 Paralympics are:
- Blind Football
- Boccia
- Goalball
- Para Archery
- Para Athletics
- Para Badminton
- Para Canoe
- Para Cycling Road
- Para Cycling Track
- Para Equestrian
- Para Judo
- Para Powerlifting
- Para Rowing
- Para Swimming
- Para Table Tennis
- Para Taekwondo
- Para Triathlon
- Shooting Para Sport
- Sitting Volleyball
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wheelchair Tennis
How to Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games promise to be an unforgettable event, with NBCUniversal offering extensive coverage for U.S. viewers. NBCUniversal will broadcast the highly anticipated Opening Ceremony live from Paris. Set to take place on the iconic Champs-Élysées at the Place de la Concorde, the ceremony will feature a parade of 184 delegations and will be streamed live on USA Network and Peacock on August 28, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET.
Comprehensive Streaming on Peacock
Peacock is the U.S. streaming hub for the Paralympic Games, offering an unprecedented 1,500 hours of live coverage across all 22 sports. Key features include the Gold Zone live show, starting August 29, and the Peacock Discovery Multiview for top live events.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games promise to be a historic event, showcasing the incredible talent of para athletes from around the world. With 549 medal events across 22 sports, this year’s Games will feature a diverse range of competitions, including some unique to the Paralympics.
Paralympic Sports: What to Expect in Paris 2024
According to WFDD, Para athletes will compete in a variety of individual and team events at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Notably, two sports—goalball and boccia—do not have an Olympic counterpart, adding a unique flair to the competition. Other key sports include sitting volleyball, wheelchair rugby, tennis, basketball, fencing, rowing, equestrian, swimming, and para triathlon.
In sports like para athletics, para triathlon, and para cycling, visually impaired athletes compete alongside sighted guides or pilots. Since 2012, these guides have also received medals, acknowledging their vital role in the athletes’ performances. The sports with the highest number of competitors this year are para athletics (1,135 athletes), para swimming (608), and para table tennis (281).
Record Participation: Nations and Delegations
The 2024 Paralympic Games will see a record number of delegations, with approximately 4,400 athletes from 168 groups. This includes 167 National Paralympic Committees, an eight-member Refugee Paralympic Team, and 96 neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus. Additionally, Eritrea, Kiribati, and Kosovo will be making their Paralympic debut.
The largest delegations come from China (282 athletes), Brazil (255), and France (237). Notably, the Paris 2024 Games will feature 1,983 female competitors, with more medal events for women—235 in total—than ever before.
Team USA: Athletes to Watch
Team USA is sending 225 athletes, including five guides, to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. These athletes hail from 38 states and range in age from 15 to 52. Among the stars to watch are multi-season athletes like Oksana Masters and Aaron Pike, swimmer Jessica Long, and track and field athletes Tatyana McFadden, Roderick Townsend, and Brittni Mason.
Other standout athletes include wheelchair basketball legend Chuck Aoki, Sarah Adam—set to become the first woman to represent Team USA in wheelchair rugby—and swimmer Abbas Karimi, who will compete in his first Paralympic Games as a U.S. citizen.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are poised to be a remarkable celebration of athleticism, inclusivity, and international cooperation. With record-breaking participation and a wide array of sports, these Games will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy.
A Strong Message of Inclusion
Jitske Visser, IPC Athletes’ Commission President, and Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, emphasized the significance of hosting the Paralympic Games in the heart of Paris. They see it as a powerful symbol of the city’s commitment to promoting inclusion and raising awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games promise to be an inspiring event, setting a new standard for how the world views and supports Paralympic athletes.
Reference Articles:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Summer_Paralympics
[2] https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/sports
[3] https://www.paralympic.org/en/paris-2024-paralympics/competition-schedule
[4] https://www.paralympic.org/paris-2024
[5] https://olympics.com/de/paris-2024/die-spiele/olympische-paralympische-spiele/paralympische-spiele
[6] https://www.npr.org/2024/08/28/nx-s1-5090818/paralympics-2024-paris-schedule-guide
[7] https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/paralympic-games/schedule
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJFBV46W_bU
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