The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, which expresses the 'completely open competition', marks the 36th entry of the Korean team, led by Choi Yong-beom, dressed as Gonryongpo homage

Aug 29, 2024

The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games were held at Concordia Square in Paris, France, in the early morning of the 29th (Korean time). At the opening ceremony, a celebration of three colors, meaning the color of the French flag, exploded. Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

The Korean team, led by Canu's 27-year-old player Choi Yong-beom, enters for the 36th time at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympics at Concord Square in Paris on the 29th. Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

The 2024 Paris Paralympics opened with an open-type opening ceremony wishing for harmony and unity.

The Paris Paralympic Games began a 12-day battle with the opening ceremony at 3 a.m. on the 29th (Korea time). The opening ceremony started at the Arc de Triomphe with the symbol 'Agitos', passed the Champs-Elysees Street, and blossomed splendidly in Concorde Square.

Dancers are performing to symbolize harmony at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games held on a special stage in Concorde Square, Paris, France, early on the 29th (Korea time). Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

'Concorde Square' is a symbol of harmony and unity for the French. Originally, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed at the guillotine during the French Revolution. It changed its official name to 'Concord Square' to overcome this history and move toward peace and harmony.

In this sense, it is the place that fits perfectly with the slogan of the Paris Paralympics called 'Games Wide Open'. The Paris Paralympic Organizing Committee has set up a special stage and temporary stands in Concordor Square for the opening ceremony held outdoors for the first time ever. About six hours before the opening ceremony, which began at 8 p.m. local time, spectators marched around the Champs-Elysees Street and the special stage in Concordor Square to boost the excitement.

The opening ceremony began with a video of swimmer Theo Quirin, who has amputations in both arms and legs. Quirin talked to French Paralympians in a taxi decorated with the Paralympic mascot Fridge doll. Subsequently, disabled artists, dancers, and singers took to the stage set up around the obelisk in Concord Square to perform under the theme of 'dissonance'. After Quirin drove a taxi to the stage, a celebration of blue, white and red, symbolizing the French flag, exploded.

Afghanistan was the first to enter in the order of the French alphabet, the host country. The South Korean team entered for the 36th time and marched by waving the Korean flag. Canoe Choi Yong-beom (27, Dowon ENC) stepped up as a rider. Choi Yong-beom wore a navy jacket made by Spao, a gold leaf embroidery with Oh Jo-ryong engraved on the Gonryongpo of King Taejo of the Joseon Dynasty, and a state (red hat) worn by senior civil affairs officials during diplomatic missions or the king's journey.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games was held at a special stage in Concorde Square in Paris, France, early on the 29th (Korean time). Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

When the 129th refugee squad appeared, guests stood up and applauded. Eritrea, Kiribati and Kosovo competed in the Paralympics for the first time. Australia (2032 Brisbane), the host of the next tournament, and the U.S. (2028 LA), the host of the next tournament, entered for the 166th and 167th time, respectively. And the host country's French team entered the last, 168th, in time for the chanson 'O Champs Elysees'.

After entering, French singer Lucky Love, who was born without an arm, performed. He sang his own song 'myability', which contains lyrics that say you can do anything even with disability. Next, a video showing the history of the Paralympics was played. The French flag was then raised as the French national anthem played by Ensemble Matheus rang out while the Eiffel Tower was shining.

After speeches by Tony Estange, chairman of the Paris Paralympic Organizing Committee, and Andrew Parsons, chairman of the IPC, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the opening. After the Paralympic symbol Azitos flag was raised to the Paralympic hymn, representatives of athletes, coaches and referees took the oath of the Paralympic Games.

A celebration breaks out at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, held at Concord Square in Paris, France, early on the 29th (Korean time). Photo courtesy = Korea Sports Council for the Disabled

The torch, which was lit in Stokemanderville, England, the birthplace of the Paralympics on the 24th, was divided into 12 parts and circled France by 1,000 mourners. The torch, which was once again united, was stopped by Paris Olympic swimming bronze medalist Florent Manodu and headed to the stage.

It was passed on to long jump gold medalist Markus Lemme of Germany after winning gold medal in wheelchair tennis Michael Jeremiah of France, wheelchair fencing gold medalist Bebe Bio of Italy, and 17 medals in Paralympics.

Later, French Paralympic legends took over the torch. He was followed by Asian El Anuni, who won four gold medals in track and field at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, Christian Lasho, who won 10 gold medals in wheelchair fencing, and Beatir S (swimming), who won the most medals ever at the Paralympics.

S turned the flame over to Alexi Ankankangang (Triathlon) and Nantes Nan Keita (Athletics). And Charles-Antoni Koaku (Athletics), Fabien Ramiro (table tennis), and Elodie Lorandi (swimming) took over from Ankankang and Keita again. The five players made the final ignition together. The torch was carried in an Olympic-like hot air balloon into the sky of the Tuileries Garden. This is how the Paris Paralympic Games began to pursue harmony and harmony by opening the door to discrimination wide.

wman@sportschosun.com