Paris 2024: Paralympic Games Set to Ignite City of Lights

With the Olympic Games now a distant memory, the Paralympic Games are set to ignite the City of Lights, with 4,400 athletes from around the world vying for 549 medals across 22 sports over 11 days.

The French capital, having just hosted the Olympics, will once again be the stage for a spectacular display of sporting prowess, with many of the same venues hosting Paralympic events. The historic Place de la Concorde, which played host to skateboarding, breaking, and 3x3 basketball during the Olympics, will now be the site of the opening ceremony.

The venue beside the iconic Eiffel Tower, which saw beach volleyball action during the Olympics, will transform into a battleground for blind football, a modified version of the sport for visually impaired players, with teams of five competing using a ball equipped with rattles.

Château de Versailles will welcome the return of equestrian events, this time with para equestrian competitions taking centre stage. The Grand Palais, previously a fencing venue, will see wheelchair fencing take over, while the Invalides will host para archery.

"We are at the heart of the city," International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons told The Associated Press, highlighting the symbolism of Paris embracing the Paralympians. "The city of Paris is giving our athletes a gigantic hug."

France's para triathlon champion, Alexis Hanquinquant, is brimming with excitement: “We’ve got some monstrous iconic sites, and we’re going to get an eyeful,” he said. “Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I think we’re going to have some pretty exceptional Paralympic Games.”

Of the 22 Paralympic sports, only two don't have Olympic counterparts: goalball and boccia. In goalball, visually impaired or blind players use a ball equipped with bells to score goals against an opponent, while blindfolded players act as goalkeepers. Boccia, meanwhile, involves throwing or rolling leather balls as close as possible to a small target ball, known as the jack.

Compared to the previous Paralympics in Tokyo, 10 medal events have been added, providing more opportunities for female athletes and those with higher support needs.

Tickets for the events are proving popular, with around 2 million out of 2.5 million already sold, set to make this the second highest-attended Paralympics ever, surpassed only by the 2012 London games.

The Paralympic flame was ignited on Saturday in Stoke Mandeville, a village in northwest London widely considered the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. It will journey through cities across France via a torch relay before reaching its destination for the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

With Parisians returning from their summer holidays, the city's buzz is steadily rising after a relatively quiet start to the month. For those who missed the Olympic excitement, the Paralympics offer a second chance to experience the thrilling atmosphere.

The Paralympians will take centre stage starting on Thursday, the first day of competition, with medals to be awarded in para taekwondo, para table tennis, para swimming, and para cycling. Throughout the 11 days of competition, medals will be contested in a wide array of sports.

Many athletes will be looking to defend their titles. Avani Lekhara, the first Indian woman to win two medals at a single Paralympics, will be aiming to retain her 10-meter air rifle gold in the SH1 category. The SH1 category is for rifle shooters with lower limb impairments who can hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from a standing or sitting position.

American multi-sport specialist Oksana Masters, a champion in both summer and winter events, will be seeking to add to her impressive medal tally of seven gold and 17 medals in total.

Egypt's para powerlifter, Sherif Osman, is aiming for his fourth gold medal, while Italian fencer Bebe Vio is hoping to secure her third consecutive gold in wheelchair fencing. Vio, who lost both her legs and forearms as a child due to meningitis, is an inspiration for athletes and spectators alike.

Brazil, undefeated in blind football since the inaugural tournament in Athens in 2004, will be facing a tough challenge from the host nation, France, who are hoping for an upset. The teams will clash on September 1st, with a potentially decisive match in Group A just a day later.

Beyond the medal contenders, there are numerous other compelling storylines. Valentina Petrillo, a visually impaired Italian sprinter, will become the first transgender woman to compete at the Paralympics when she races in the heats for her classification in the women’s 400 meters on September 2nd.

American swimmer Ali Truwit, who lost her lower leg in a shark attack a year ago, will be competing with remarkable resilience.

Teenage swimmer David Kratochvil, who lost his sight due to a serious illness ten years ago, will be carrying Czech hopes of a medal. The 16-year-old, a former ice hockey player, has turned his focus to swimming, setting world records in the 50 and 200-meter backstroke last year.

The Paralympics in Paris are set to be a testament to the indomitable spirit of athletes overcoming incredible adversity, promising an unforgettable experience for spectators and athletes alike. With a diverse range of stories to unfold over the next two weeks, the Paris Paralympics are poised to captivate the world with its unique blend of athletic excellence and inspirational human stories.