Paralympic flame to be paraded through Paris this week
The ‘lead’ flame will pass through eight communes over two days ahead of this week’s Opening Ceremony
The Paralympics begin in Paris this week
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The Paralympic flame is to be paraded through Paris this week, ahead of the opening of the event on August 28, with more than 100 relay racers set to carry it through Seine-Saint-Denis (Ile-de-France).
The flame will be paraded on August 27 and 28. A celebration will take place at the new inclusive sports centre, Prisme, in Bobigny, including music from Belgian pop star Pierre de Maere and French singer Imen Es, on the evening of August 27.
Former Olympic high jumper, the Frenchwoman Maryse Ewanjé-Epée, is set to be among the relay racers carrying the flame, which will travel through nine communes in the Paris department. The first part of the relay will begin in Montfermeil at 09:00.
Journey from England
The flame has already made it to France after travelling in the Channel Tunnel from Stoke Mandeville via Folkestone in England. Stoke Mandeville is considered to be the ‘birthplace’ of the Paralympic Games, after the hospital of the same name held the first official Paralympics for disabled athletes in 1960.
Tony Estanguet, the president of Paris 2024, and Marie-Amélie Le Fur, the president of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, welcomed the flame at Calais. It was then split into 13 torches.
Of these, 12 will make a journey across France, before returning to Paris for the Opening Ceremony. The Seine-Saint-Denis relay is considered to be the ‘lead’ event. A 13th flame also took part in events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris.
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More than 4,000 athletes across almost 600 events
These Summer Paralympics will be the 17th edition, and will open on August 28, concluding on September 8.
There will be 18 sites welcoming 549 events in Paris. Paralympic sports include ‘para’ versions of badminton, judo, canoeing, cycling, riding, taekwondo, table tennis, archery, triathlon, tennis, swimming, and volleyball.
Read also: 2024 Paralympic Games in France: When are they and which sports are included?
Read also: See: Paris Paralympics dates and event schedule
More than 4,400 Paralympic athletes will take part, including 237 from France. A total of 168 delegations will attend, of which there will be 167 countries, plus athletes in a neutral, refugee team.
France is expected to do well; it won 55 medals at the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021.
Read also: When will Paris metro tickets return to pre-Olympic prices?
