Paris 2024 Paralympics kick off with unique outdoor opening at iconic landmark

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have opened in spectacular style with a unique opening ceremony, held for the first time outside a stadium, on the Place de la Concorde.

Para athletes from 168 delegations paraded around the largest square in Paris, which was transformed for one evening only into a magnificent open-air arena, Caliber.Az reports.

The ceremony began at 22:00 Baku time on the famous Champs-Élysées. The participants' parade concluded at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, which is considered one of the "Five Royal Squares."

About 6,000 athletes and officials from 184 delegations will participate in the parade of the XVII Games. The Azerbaijani team will take part in its eighth such competition in its history.

The flag of Azerbaijan at the event was carried by para-taekwondo athlete Imammadin Khalilov and para-athlete Lamiya Valiyeva. The opening ceremony, consisting of official and artistic segments, will be watched by 65,000 spectators. Tickets for paid seats were sold to 35,000 people, while another 30,000 viewers are watching for free.

The Paralympics, which will run until September 8, will feature 549 medal events. The Azerbaijani team, which arrived in the French capital with 18 athletes across 7 sports, includes para-athletes Rufat Rafiyev (shot put, F36), Olokhan Musaev (shot put, F55), Said Najafzada (long jump, T12), Orkhan Aslanov (long jump, T13), Lamiya Valiyeva (100m and 400m running, T13), para-taekwondo athletes Sabir Zeynalov (58 kg, K44), Imammadin Khalilov (70 kg, K44), Abulfaz Abuzarli (80 kg, K44), para-swimmers Konul Suleymanova (50m and 100m backstroke, J1), Raman Saleh (50m and 100m freestyle, S12), Vali Israfilov (100m breaststroke, SB13), para-judokas Dursadaf Karimova (+70 kg, J2), Khatiya Ismiyeva (+70 kg, J1), Ilham Zakiyev (+90 kg, J1), para-shooters Kamran Zeynalov (50m pistol shooting, T4), Aybaniz Babayeva (50m pistol shooting, T4), para-archer Jahan Musayev, and para-powerlifter Jeyhun Mahmudov (54 kg).