The 2024 Paralympic Games will kick off in Paris from August 28 to September 8, 2024. In all, no fewer than 4,400 athletes are expected to take part. Here’s everything you need to know!
Opening ceremony at Place de la Concorde
That’s right! Unlike the olympic Games ceremony, which will take place on the Seine, the opening of the Paralympic Games will be held on Place de la Concorde on August 28. It will be able to accommodate up to 65,000 spectators from all over the world! It promises to be a magical show!
Most tests will be held in central Paris
Like the Olympic Games, the majority of Paralympic events will take place in the center of Paris and its suburbs. In detail, you can applaud para archery athletes at Les Invalides, or para judo at Champ-de-Mars.
The Paralympic flame will pass through La Manche
After lighting up all the Olympic Games, the flame will continue to flicker for the Paralympic Games. It will be lit in Stoke Mandeville, UK. The city was the first in history to host the Paralympic Games. What a symbol! The flame will cross the English Channel to light up the games.
Two new sports, specific to the Paralympic Games, will be played
This year’s line-up includes two new sports: boccia and goalball. Boccia is a precision game, comparable to pétanque. This sport demands great precision and skill. Goalball is a team sport, reminiscent of handball. The players, who are often visually impaired, have to use all their senses to retrieve the ball, which is equipped with a bell.