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The 2024 Paralympics in Paris commenced with a grand opening ceremony, marking the beginning of 11 days of fierce competition. French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open, igniting the spirit of the athletes and spectators alike.The ceremony, held in the heart of Paris at the Place de la Concorde, was a vibrant spectacle. The 4,400 athletes from 168 delegations marched into the arena, with host nation France receiving a thunderous ovation. The atmosphere was electric as the sun set, casting a warm glow over the proceedings.In a poignant moment, French singer Lucky Love, who is missing his left arm below the elbow, performed a moving rendition of his song "My Ability." The performance, accompanied by both able-bodied and disabled dancers, symbolized the spirit of inclusion and diversity that the Paralympics represents.International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Andrew Parsons expressed his hope for an "inclusion revolution" before Macron officially declared the Games open. The ceremony culminated in the lighting of the cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens, a symbol of the Paralympic flame.The Paralympics will utilize 18 of the 35 Olympic venues, including the Grand Palais and the Stade de France. Ticket sales have surged since the Olympics, with over two million of the 2.5 million available tickets sold.Host nation France aims to improve upon its 11 gold medals from 2021, while Paralympic powerhouse China remains a formidable force. Ukraine, despite the ongoing war, has sent a team of 140 athletes to compete.Notable athletes to watch include American sprinter/high jumper Ezra Frech, Iranian sitting volleyball legend Morteza Mehrzad, and Italian fencer Beatrice "Bebe" Vio.The Paralympics not only showcases athleticism but also serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities. IPC president Parsons believes the Paris Games will bring these issues to the forefront of global priorities.

The Paris Paralympics, set to commence on Wednesday, will witness a spectacular opening ceremony in the heart of Paris, following the city's successful hosting of the Olympics. A new generation of Paralympians will join seasoned veterans in competing at many of the same venues that hosted Olympic events.Eighteen of the 35 Olympic venues will be utilized for the Paralympics, including the Grand Palais, which received high praise for hosting fencing and taekwondo under its ornate roof. The La Defense Arena will once again host the 141 gold-medal events in para-swimming, while the Stade de France will be the stage for track and field competitions.The Games will commence with a ceremony in Place de la Concorde, the central square of Paris where skateboarding and other urban sports were featured during the Olympics. This marks the first time a Paralympics opening ceremony will take place outside the main stadium.The Paralympic flame was ignited at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, the birthplace of the Games, and transported to France via the Channel Tunnel. Theatre director Thomas Jolly, who also oversaw the Olympics opening ceremony, emphasized the symbolism of holding the Paralympics ceremony in the heart of Paris, a city whose Metro system remains largely inaccessible to wheelchair users."Placing Paralympic athletes in the heart of the city is a political statement, as the city is not sufficiently adapted to every handicapped person," Jolly said.Organizers have addressed accessibility concerns by ensuring that Paris buses are wheelchair-friendly and providing 1,000 specially adapted taxis. Ticket sales, which were initially sluggish, have picked up since the Olympics, with over 1.9 million tickets sold to date.Every Paralympics introduces new stars, and this edition will be no exception. American above-the-knee amputee sprinter/high jumper Ezra Frech, at just 19 years old, has already garnered significant attention for his journey to Paris. Familiar faces will also return, such as British amputee sprinter Jonnie Peacock, who made a comeback last year in his bid to win a medal at his fourth consecutive Paralympics.Beyond the track, Iranian sitting volleyball legend Morteza Mehrzad, standing at an impressive 8ft 1in (2.46m) tall, will aim to defend his gold medal. The Paralympics, however, extend beyond sports, serving as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities.International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons expressed his hope that the Paris edition will bring the issues facing disabled people back to the forefront of global priorities. He believes the Games "will have a big impact in how people with disability are perceived around the world.""This is one of the key expectations we have around Paris 2024; we believe that we need people with disability to be put back on the global agenda," Parsons said.Paralympic powerhouse China is expected to send a strong squad, having dominated the medals table at the Tokyo Games with 96 golds. Britain, with 41 golds, will be aiming to improve its performance. Host nation France, riding the wave of its Olympic team's success, will be targeting a significant increase from the 11 golds it won in 2021.Ukraine, traditionally a top medal-winning nation at the Paralympics, will send a team of 140 athletes despite the challenges they face in preparing amidst the ongoing war. Athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete under a neutral banner but are barred from the opening and closing ceremonies.

Para-athlete Suvarna Raj, a beacon of resilience and determination, has overcome immense challenges to achieve remarkable success in her sporting career. Diagnosed with polio at the tender age of two, Raj faced societal stigma and limited opportunities. However, her unwavering spirit and unwavering support from her family propelled her to defy expectations.Raj's journey to the pinnacle of para-sports was arduous and filled with obstacles. It took her 33 years to prove her worth, a testament to her indomitable will. Her perseverance paid off when she clinched two medals at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Korea and two more at the Thailand Para Table Tennis Open in 2013.At the NDTV Indian of the Year 2024 award ceremony, Raj shared her inspiring story, highlighting the challenges faced by disabled individuals in society. She emphasized the need for a more inclusive and supportive environment, where people with disabilities are not marginalized but celebrated for their abilities.Raj's achievements have not only brought her personal glory but have also inspired countless others. Her story serves as a reminder that with determination and support, anything is possible. She has become a role model for aspiring para-athletes, proving that disability is not a barrier to success.Meanwhile, the Indian women's cricket team was honored with the 'Sports Performance of the Year' award at the same ceremony. The team, represented by Shreyanka Patil, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav, has made significant strides in recent years, thanks to the support of the BCCI.Shreyanka Patil expressed her gratitude for the recognition and acknowledged the positive changes in women's cricket in India. She credited the BCCI for providing equal opportunities and financial support, which has empowered the team to achieve greater heights.