As the 100-day countdown to the Paris Paralympic Games begins on Monday, excitement and preparations are ramping up for the grand opening ceremony scheduled at the iconic Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées. Organizers, led by the Paris Olympics committee chief Tony Estangue, are gearing up to welcome approximately 4,000 athletes and 65,000 spectators.
Theater director Thomas Jolly, responsible for choreographing the August 28 procession, emphasizes the event's goal: \\"It will be a spectacle that will showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values that they embody.\\"
Despite the enthusiasm, ticket sales have been modest, with only one-third of the total 90,000 tickets sold so far. Organizers are optimistic, anticipating that 40 percent of tickets will be sold following the conclusion of the Olympic Games on August 11, mirroring the successful sales surge seen during the London 2012 Paralympics.
On the broadcasting front, the Paralympics have secured broadcasting rights with a record 160 nations and territories, ensuring wide global coverage of the 22-sport event. Notable Paralympians set to compete in Paris include Italian fencer and quadruple amputee Bebe Vio, American “armless archer” Matt Stutzman, and German \"blade jumper\" Markus Rehm.
In addition to promoting participation, organizers and transport officials are diligently working to enhance security and accessibility for disabled attendees traveling to the Games and navigating the city. On Monday, the China Disabled Persons' Federation held a meeting to brief Chinese Paralympians on the team's preparations, with Chinese athletes qualifying in 19 of the 22 sports to be contested.
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Paris Paralympics: Organizers aim to boost ticket sales, accessibility
cgtn.com
