Paris Kicks Off Paralympic Games with Extravagant Ceremony

Paris, following the Olympics, commenced the Paralympic Games with a grand ceremony on the Champs-Elysées. Attended by President Macron, the event featured a parade of over 4,000 athletes. The opening highlighted Parisian landmarks and included a show by singer Lucky Love. Competitions begin Thursday.

Paris, just weeks after hosting the Olympics, transitioned to the Paralympic Games with an elaborate opening ceremony on Wednesday. French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open in a ceremony held outside a stadium, mirroring the Olympic launch on July 26.

As the sun set, thousands of athletes paraded down the Champs-Elysées to Place de la Concorde. Approximately 50,000 spectators watched from stands encircling the iconic square. Accessibility measures for wheelchair athletes included asphalt strips along the avenue and over the square.

More than 4,000 athletes will compete in 22 sports until Sept 8. Under the gaze of Macron and International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons, fighter planes flew overhead, leaving trails of French national flag colors. Delegations entered the square in alphabetical order, with fans cheering loudly for their countries.

The event featured performances, including a show by Lucky Love, a French singer who lost his left arm at birth. As he performed, the national anthem played and the Obelisk lit up in the colors of the French flag. Organizers promised another spectacular show, unlike the rain-soaked Olympic opening ceremony, this one was exclusively on land.

Organizers have sold over 2 million tickets for the Paralympic events. Tony Estanguet, president of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, praised the athletes as "immense champions." The Games aim to remain a powerful force for good amid global tensions.

(With inputs from agencies.)