In photos: Team Kenya at Paris 2024 Paralympics opening ceremony
French president Emmanuel Macron declared the Paralympic Games open on Wednesday after a glorious ceremony in which competitors were celebrated by joyful volunteers and spectators on a sweet summer night.
The event on the Champs Elysees and the Place de la Concorde was the first Paralympics curtain-raiser to be held outside a stadium.
Security was tight, with some 15,000 law enforcement officers on site, but there was a light summer feeling to the evening as the sun slowly set on the French capital.
The event, directed by Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman and featuring 500 artists, was named “Paradox, from discord to concord”, in a thinly-veiled reference to the Place de la Concorde, where the sold-out ceremony ended in front of more than 50,000 spectators.
The 168-delegation athletes’ parade started from the bottom of the Champs Elysees in a festive atmosphere with volunteers cheering and dancing.
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Opening Ceremony – Paris, France – August 28, 2024 An athlete from Kenya’s delegation attends the Parade of Nations as part of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde Julien De Rosa/Pool via REUTERS
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Opening Ceremony – Paris, France – August 28, 2024 Samwel Mushai Kimani of Kenya and Asiya Sururu of Kenya lead their contingent during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Opening Ceremony – Paris, France – August 28, 2024 Kenya athletes during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Taekwondo – Women K44 -52kg Round of 16 – Grand Palais, Paris, France – August 29, 2024 Neema Stency Obonyo of Kenya in action against Salma Ali Abd Al Moneem Hassan of Egypt REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Taekwondo – Women K44 -52kg Round of 16 – Grand Palais, Paris, France – August 29, 2024 Neema Stency Obonyo of Kenya in action against Salma Ali Abd Al Moneem Hassan of Egypt REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Opening Ceremony – Paris, France – August 28, 2024 Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony Thibault Camus/Pool via REUTERS
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Opening Ceremony – Paris, France – August 28, 2024 The Obelisk of Luxor on the Place de la Concorde is seen alongside a fireworks display during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
Paris 2024 Paralympics – Opening Ceremony – Paris, France – August 28, 2024 Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Nantenin Keita, Fabien Lamirault, Alexis Hanquinquant and Elodie Lorandi raise torches next to The Olympic cauldron REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
