Paris 2024 Paralympics Begin with Grand Ceremony

The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games commenced with a spectacular opening ceremony at Place de la Concorde, featuring over 4,400 athletes from 182 countries competing across 22 sports. Notable moments included the participation of the largest Indian contingent ever with 84 athletes, led by flag-bearers Sumit Antil and Bhagyashree Jadhav, and the inspiring journey of Ukrainian swimmer Danylo Chufarov. Team Canada hopes to surpass its previous medal tally of 21 from Tokyo 2021, and Australia's Brenden Hall, competing in his fifth Paralympics, aims to reclaim his title in the 400m freestyle S9. The Games also highlight the rising prominence of African athletes in adaptive sports. Organizers have already sold over 2 million tickets, promising a sold-out extravaganza that emphasizes inclusion, diversity, and the resilience of Paralympic athletes.