Paris 2024: Paralympics Aim to Surpass London Legacy
As the Olympic flame was extinguished in Paris, the focus shifted to the upcoming Paralympics, with a clear message from the organisers: the "second half" of the Games is ready to begin. With Paralympians playing a prominent role in the closing ceremony's torch lighting, the message resonated loud and clear: Paris is ready to build upon the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, a Paralympic legend, believes Paris has the potential to raise the bar even higher. "While I loved everything in London, I don't want it to be the best Paralympics ever, just one of the best," she stated. "It's time for that to happen."
The road to Paris has been challenging, with Rio 2016 facing substantial financial hurdles and Tokyo 2020 hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, Paris boasts impressive venues, promising competition, a bold opening ceremony, and the hope for favourable weather.
Paris already experienced a positive vibe during the Olympics, with welcoming and accessible fan zones. However, there is a need for increased understanding of accessibility needs, as demonstrated by Grey-Thompson's encounter with a restaurant lacking an accessible toilet.
Organisers are targeting 1.75 million ticket sales, with 700,000 already achieved during the Olympics. They hope to attract Parisians returning from their summer holidays to participate in the Games.
The International Paralympic Committee has emphasised that the summer's sporting party isn't over, with the Paralympics poised to be the biggest and most memorable yet. While filling a venue like the 80,000-capacity Stade de France for athletics might be a challenge, other sports, such as wheelchair fencing and para-taekwondo at the Grand Palais, para-cycling track events, para-equestrian programmes, and blind football at the Eiffel Tower Stadium, are close to selling out.
The upcoming Games represent a pivotal moment for the Paralympic movement. With record participation from female athletes and enhanced media coverage, Paris has a unique opportunity to showcase the Paralympic spirit. Failure to capitalise on this moment would be a missed opportunity.
UK viewers will enjoy extensive coverage of the Games, offering the closest experience to a home summer event for British athletes since Tokyo. This will enable friends, family, and fans who couldn't travel to Japan to be part of the action, enjoying real-time events rather than just highlights. As the Paris Paralympics begin, the world will watch to see if they can surpass the legacy of London and build a new chapter in Paralympic history.
