29 Aug 2024

Paris 'giving a big hug' to Paralympians for opening ceremony

12:11 pm on 29 August 2024
New Zealand's delegation parades on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

The New Zealand team on the Champs-Elysées during the opening ceremony. Photo: AFP

A crowd at the Place de la Concorde has cheered wildly as French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Paralympic Games open on Thursday.

Athletes have lined the Champs-Elysées, parading down to the Place de la Concorde where music, dances, light shows and an airshow have dazzled spectators.

RNZ's correspondent in Paris, Ross Cullen, said unlike the Olympic opening ceremony, the weather has played ball with a sunset across Paris during the festivities.

He said rubber mats were laid to help wheelchair users navigate the cobbled streets.

Paris is promising a Games to remember as the opening ceremony for the 17th summer Paralymics got underway.

Around 4400 athletes from more than 160 countries are taking part in the events, including 25 Kiwis.

Swimmer Cameron Leslie and athlete Anna Grimaldi were New Zealand's flagbearers for the Parade of Nations.

Organisers say more than two million tickets have already been sold for events across the 11 days of competition.

They are confident the Games will sell out, which would be a first for the event.

International Paralympic Committee president, Andrew Parsons, when asked about the choice of having the opening ceremony outside the stadium said: "To us, it is like Paris is giving a gigantic hug to the Paralympic athletes.

"When you hug someone, you're getting closer to the person and this is accepting the person like he or she is. This is our interpretation of this ceremony. We are being welcomed to Paris, at the very heart of the city."

In his speech, he appealed to people to "open our minds wide".

"For what you witness from Paralympic athletes are abilities and skills that surprise you. Levels of resilience and determination that energise you. And camaraderie that will inspire you.

"Paralympic athletes are not here to participate, no, sir. They are not playing games. They are here to compete, win and smash world records."

Parsons said Paralympians also wanted equality and inclusion for themselves and the world's 1.3 billion people with disabilities.

Here's a selection of photos from the ceremony.

The Phryge car appears at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP)

The Phryge car appears at the Place de la Concorde - the Phryges are the mascots for the Games. Photo: AFP / Franck Fife

France's President Emmanuel Macron waves as he arrives to attend the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

France's President Emmanuel arrives to watch the opening ceremony. Photo: AFP / Dimitar Dilkoff

This photograph taken from the Arc de Triomphe shows French Air Force Elite acrobatic flying team "Patrouille de France" performing during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by MARTIN BUREAU / AFP)

The French Air Force Elite acrobatic flying team "Patrouille de France" does a display. Photo: AFP

French Air Force Elite acrobatic flying team "Patrouille de France" performs near the Obelisque de Louxor (Luxor Obelisk) during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Photo: AFP

Dancers perform during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, with the Obelisque de Louxor (Luxor Obelisk) on August 28, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / POOL / AFP)

A dancer performs at the Place de la Concorde. Photo: AFP / Julien de Rosa

Dancers perform in front of the Obelisque de Louxor (Luxor Obelisk) at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

A piano is a platform for this dancer. Photo: AFP / Dimitar Dilkoff

Dancers perform during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde with the Obelisque de Louxor (Luxor Obelisk) in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

The scene at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The athletes parade will eventually finish in the square. Photo: AFP / Bertrand Guay

Artists perform at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Thibault Camus / POOL / AFP)

Artists perform at the Place de la Concorde. Photo: AFP

Dancers perform during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

Photo: AFP / Bertrand Guay

Dancers perform at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Dancers perform at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. Photo: AFP / Dimitar Dilkoff

Show during Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, at Place de la Concorde, in Paris, France, on August 28, 2024, Photo Lionel Hahn / KMSP (Photo by HAHN Lionel / KMSP / KMSP via AFP)

Photo: AFP

French singer Lucky Love performs at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes / POOL / AFP)

French singer Lucky Love performs. Photo: AFP

Mexico's delegation parades at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Thibault Camus / POOL / AFP)

Some of Mexico's team for the Paralympics. Photo: AFP

Kenya's delegation arrives during the Parade of Nations as part of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / POOL / AFP)

One of the Kenyan team during the Parade of Nations. Photo: AFP

Canada's delegation parades at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP)

Canada's delegation parades at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games opening ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. Photo: AFP / Franck Fife

Papua New Guinea's delegation parades at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP)

The Papua New Guinea team in the march past. Photo: AFP

Japan's delegation parades at the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP)

Some of the Japanese team. Photo: AFP

Indonesia's delegation arrives during the Parade of Nations as part of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / POOL / AFP)

A participant from Indonesia. Photo: AFP

Denmark's delegation parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Denmark's team takes part in the opening ceremony. Photo: AFP / Dimitar Dilkoff

Bermuda's delegation arrives on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Bermuda's team arrives. Photo: AFP

Austria's delegation arrive on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony in Paris on August 28, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Austria's delegation is also among the early arrivals. Photo: AFP

-ABC /RNZ

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs

We have regular online commentary of local and international sport.