Get ready, world! 🌍 The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are set to be a total game-changer! 💫
According to Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the upcoming Games will mark a turning point for the Paralympic Movement. Speaking on the eve of the Opening Ceremony, Parsons shared his excitement: \"The Paralympic movement has become more relevant than ever. But it's also because of the ambition of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee. In many areas, they are innovative and we're part of that. I think there will be a 'Before Paris' and 'After Paris' for the Paralympic Movement.\"
With over 1.75 million tickets already sold ahead of the August 28 start date (running until September 8), the enthusiasm is off the charts! 🎟️🔥
What's even cooler? 😎 Just like the Olympic Opening Ceremony that dazzled everyone on the River Seine, the Paralympics will kick off in style outside a stadium, this time on the iconic Champs-Elysees and at the Place de la Concorde. \"To us, it's like the city of Paris is giving this gigantic hug to our athletes, embracing the Paralympic Movement,\" Parsons said. \"This is very special because it's like: 'Look, we talk about 4,400 athletes with disability, but you're part of what we are as a city, because we are a diverse city.'\"
Parsons, who has been leading the IPC since 2017, can't wait for the celebrations to begin. \"After the Olympics and seeing what has happened here, we can't wait for the Opening Ceremony. It was incredible. People just happy and proud, and this is what we want to see during the Paralympics. From the feedback we are getting, we think it will happen again.\"
France's own Paralympic team 🇫🇷, featuring 237 athletes, is gearing up to make a splash. \"We hope France can win a couple of medals, especially in the very first days, it's important,\" Parsons, the 47-year-old Brazilian, noted. Their success could keep the excitement rolling from the summer Olympics into the Paralympics.
Of course, Parsons acknowledges that the Paralympics will be held in a different context, with negotiations over the formation of a new government resuming and the school year starting. But that doesn't dampen the spirit! ✨
So mark your calendars, folks! 📅 The Paris 2024 Paralympics are not just another sporting event—they're set to redefine the future of the Paralympic Movement and inspire millions around the globe. Let's go! 🥳
Reference(s):
Paris 2024 will be turning point for Paralympics, says IPC president
cgtn.com
