Two weeks after the successful conclusion of the Olympic Games, Paris is gearing up to ignite widespread excitement for the Paralympic Games, the first to be held on French soil, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported.
The event begins on Wednesday evening with what promises to be an unprecedented opening ceremony at the heart of the capital, where 30,000 people are expected at the Place de la Concorde and 15,000 more at the Champs-Elysées, according to AFP.
Most of the 4,400 athletes will gather along the Champs-Elysées and Concorde Place for a performance called “Paradox,” choreographed by Swedish artist Alexander Ekman, directed by Thomas Jolly, with music by Victor Le Masne.
Ahead of the opening night, Andrew Parsons, President of the Paralympic Committee, conveyed his enthusiasm, noting that the celebration would continue, according to AFP.
The upcoming ceremony is anticipated to be an emotional event, with Paris “embracing the athletes,” Parsons stated.
The competition is set to commence on September 7 and will span 11 days, taking place at most of the same venues that hosted the Olympic Games, including the Grand Palais and Les Invalides.
Approximately two million tickets have been sold, out of the 2.5 million made available in October of last year. These figures demonstrate a high level of public interest and demand.
The event has also attracted significant media coverage, with a record number of 165 television channels set to broadcast it.