- Spectacular and Thoughtful Paralympic Opening Celebration
At 22:37, French President Emmanuel Macron officially started the Games. Prior to this, Ian Crozer, head of the International Paralympic Committee, echoed the French Republic's motto. "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," Crozer urged for more compassion, empathy, and liberty, particularly for individuals with disabilities, to a rousing applause from the crowd.
Half a thousand performers and entertainers set the tone at the historic Place de la Concorde on a cozy summer evening, with a mix of engaging and profound acts. The event was dubbed "an occasion that will linger in memory." Despite the absence of international icons like Lady Gaga or Céline Dion, the organizers successfully lived up to this promise for the inaugural Paralympic Summer Games in Paris.
Germany as the fourth group at Place de la Concorde
The German contingent reached Place de la Concorde as the fourth contingent. After approximately 300 meters on the Champs-Élysées, the athletes, led by flag bearers Müller and Schulz, as well as prosthetic long jump sensation Markus Rehm, marched into the largest square in Paris. Around 100 German athletes, alongside coaches, support staff, and officials, passed by the jam-packed stands just before 8:30, under the watchful gaze of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Over the next eleven days, about 4,400 athletes will battle it out for 549 gold, silver, and bronze medals in 22 sports. The competitions at iconic locations like the Eiffel Tower, the gardens of Versailles, the Grand Palais, and the Invalides are expected to yield similarly emotive and awe-inspiring images as these at the Olympics.
Germany aims to secure a place in the top 10 in the medal tally
The German squad, comprising around 143 athletes and five guides, aims to reverse the downward trend of the previous Games. In Tokyo three years ago, the German squad claimed only 43 medals, finishing twelfth in the medal tally. Friedhelm Julius Beucher, President of the German Paralympic Committee, hopes for a return to the top 10 in Paris.
The German athletes showed their strength in the triathlon event, with Markus Rehm delivering a powerful performance. Despite the intense competition, Germany aims to secure a place in the top 10 in the overall medal tally.
