The Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday will break new ground, much like the 2024 Paris Olympics, by being the first to take place outside a traditional stadium. Athletes will parade along the iconic Champs-Elysées, and while the performers remain under wraps, organizers have promised an unprecedented and unforgettable show.
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Essential Information
The 2024 Paris Olympics wrapped up on August 11, but the Paralympics are set to begin this week and will run through September 8 (you can find the full event schedule here).
This marks the first time France is hosting the summer Paralympic Games and the first occasion since the COVID-19 pandemic that spectators will be permitted in the stands.
Over the next 11 days, more than 4,000 athletes with physical, intellectual, and visual impairments from 184 delegations will compete across 22 sports.
Athletes are classified into 10 categories based on their impairments, including eight physical classifications—such as differences in leg length and limb deficiencies—as well as vision and intellectual impairments. They are grouped according to the extent of activity limitations resulting from their conditions.
How Can I Watch the Opening Ceremony?
Coverage of the opening ceremony will start at 1 p.m. EDT on USA Network and will be available for streaming on Peacock. The ceremony itself will begin at 2 p.m. EDT. Peacock is the official streaming platform for the Games, offering live streams of all events as well as full-event replays for those unable to watch live. The Paralympics will also be broadcast live on NBC, CNBC, and USA Network.
Who Are the Team USA Flag Bearers?
Nicky Nieves, a gold medalist in sitting volleyball, will serve as the women's flag bearer for Team USA. Steve Serio, a gold medalist in sitting basketball, will be the men's flag bearer.
What Happens at the Opening Ceremony?
In a historic first, the 2024 Paris Paralympics opening ceremony will take place outside of a traditional stadium, similar to this year’s Olympics. However, instead of a boat procession, athletes will parade down the Champs-Elysées to the ceremony at Place de la Concorde. The event is set to "showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values they represent," according to Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for both the Olympics and Paralympics opening ceremonies. While performer names are yet to be announced, Jolly has promised "never-before-seen performances" in a "spectacle that will bring together spectators and TV audiences worldwide to celebrate the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games."
Key Background
The Paralympics originated in 1946 at a veterans' hospital in Stoke Mandeville, north of London, with the first official Games taking place in Rome in 1960. Traditionally held about two weeks after the Olympics, the Paralympics have been hosted in the same city and venue as the Olympics since 1988. Paralympic athletes compete in sports that have Olympic counterparts, such as para triathlon, wheelchair rugby, basketball, and tennis. However, Goalball and Boccia are exclusive to the Paralympics.
Goalball is designed for athletes with visual impairments, featuring two teams competing on a court with goals at each end. Teams score by rolling a ball with bells inside into the opposing team's goal, and players wear eye shades to ensure fairness. Boccia is aimed at athletes with severe motor impairments, where players earn points by rolling a leather ball as close as possible to a small white ball called a jack.
Surprising Fact
In events such as para cycling and paratriathlon, visually impaired athletes partner with sighted guides to help them navigate the competition. Since 2012, these guides have also been awarded medals for their crucial role in the athletes' success.