The Paris Paralympics have officially begun with a spectacular opening ceremony held in the heart of the city. The event, which marks the start of 11 days of intense competition, took place in Place de la Concorde and was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The games, which will run until September 8th, will see a mix of seasoned veterans and new Paralympians compete in venues such as the Grand Palais and La Defense Arena. Ticket sales have been on the rise since the Olympics, with over 2 million out of 2.5 million available tickets already sold.
Organizers have made efforts to accommodate wheelchair users, with wheelchair accessible buses and specially adapted taxis available for transportation. The Paralympics aim to not only showcase athletic talent but also bring attention to the issues facing disabled individuals on a global scale.
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons hopes that the Paris edition of the games will help bring the rights and needs of disabled people to the forefront of global priorities. Parsons believes that the Paralympics will have a significant impact on changing perceptions of people with disabilities worldwide. The goal is to spark meaningful conversations and actions surrounding disability rights on a global scale.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com