French President Emmanuel Macron announced the opening of the Games for the Disabled (Paralybics) in the early morning of August 29 (Vietnam time) after a solemn ceremony, in which athletes were warmly welcomed by volunteers and the audience on a sweet summer night.
The event, taking place on Champs Elysees and Concorde Square, is the first opening ceremony of the disabled Olympic Games outside the stadium.
Security is tightened, with about 15,000 police on duty, but there is a sense of ease in the summer as the sunset falls on the French capital.
"Dear athletes, welcome to the land of love and revolution. rest assured, tonight, there will be no attacks on Bastille fortress, no slashers, because tonight the most beautiful revolution will begin - the revolution for the disabled", said Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet. "It's a sweet revolution that will profoundly change all of us."
The live show began at the foot of the tower at Place de la Concorde with Canadian musician, composer and producer Chilly Gonzales playing the piano.
Disabled artists sang together countdown numbers, while French singer Christine and Queens performed the pop version of Edith Piaf's 'Je ne regrette rien'.
The opening ceremony was choreographed by Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman, directed and featured 500 artists, named "Paradox, from discord to harmony", with more than 50,000 audiences witnessing it live.
The parade included 168 groups of athletes starting from the foot of Champs Elysees in a festive atmosphere with volunteers cheering and dancing.
As the French group of athletes, who finished the parade, approached the square, Yann Tiersen's Amelie theme song was played on the loudspeaker before the audience shouted "Allez Les Bleus", at the same time, Eiffel Tower sparkled behind.
For the Vietnamese sports delegation, Le Van Cong and Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan were the two athletes holding flags in the parade. The Vietnamese delegation has 10 members attending the opening ceremony.
After the opening ceremony, Vietnamese athletes will practice actively to prepare for the first competitions on August 31. The two swimmers Do Thanh Hai and Le Tien Dat will be the pioneers of the Vietnam Sports Delegation for the Disabled at the Paralympics.
The Vietnam Sports delegation for the disabled will participate in the 2024 Paral Games Paris with 14 members, including 4 delegation members, 3 coaches and 7 athletes, including: Le Van Cong, Nguyen Binh An, Dang Thi Linh Phuong, Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan (weightlifting), Do Thanh Hai, Le Tien Dat (swimming) and Pham Nguyen Khanh Minh (athletics).
The goal of the Vietnam Sports delegation for the disabled at the Paris Games is to win medals, with the biggest expectation in weightlifting, especially the city doctor Le Van Cong.
Paralympic Paris 2024 closes on September 8 at Stade de France.
