The opening ceremony is an arduous process for athletes. The Akubra-wearing Australian contingent was to be out from about 5pm until 11pm, in part because the nation, as hosts in Brisbane in 2032, was third last to march.
Australia’s Paralympians march into the Place de la Concorde during the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.Credit: Getty Images
Australia’s support team spent the day before the ceremony preparing measures to minimise the effects of fatigue on athletes who are competing early in the competition.
Hall, who is swimming at his fifth Paralympics, will be diving into the pool at 9.30am the next morning (Thursday, Paris time) for the 400-metre freestyle.
Artists wearing black suits, representing mainstream society, perform during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics as the colours of the French flag explode into the Parisian sky.Credit: AP
To reduce the number of steps he had to take, he spent part of the parade riding on a scooter.
De Rozario’s first race, the 5000 metres, is on day two.
The Phryge covered car at the opening ceremony, driven by para-swimmer Theo Curin.Credit: Getty Images
“The reality is, I would have made the decision every single time [to participate in the opening ceremony],” she said.
“It’s such an enormous honour and privilege, so I think, even though you’re conscious that it has an impact on how you may have prepared for the race, you just put all those pieces where they need to go and put a plan together and you get to represent Australia as best you can.”
The marathon champion, whose wheelchair was modified with a flagpole holder, told reporters ahead of the ceremony that she was nervous.
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“As the opening ceremony has gotten closer, I’m like, I have no idea how to do this. This is not in my skill set to wave an enormous flag. I have the set-up ready but I’m still optimistic that Brenden will be doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to actually holding the flag.”
The French were the last to march in the parade, as the 1969 song Les Champs-Elysees boomed across Paris, before changing to the theme song of the film Amelie.
The Paralympic symbol, the agitos (from the Latin word “agito”, meaning “I move”), has replaced the Olympic rings on the Arc de Triomphe.
The ceremony promoted a “Paralympic revolution”, apt in the city that was the birthplace of one of the best-known revolutions in history.
Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the Paris 2024 ceremonies, said the setting of the Paralympics opening event was designed to highlight how many modern cities remained inaccessible for people with disabilities.
“Towns and cities are not designed with people with disabilities in mind, and many projects need to be undertaken or continued to enable greater mobility, full accessibility, to fight against isolation and for equal freedom of movement,” Jolly said.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons said: “By staging this event in Place de la Concorde and Champs Elysees, I feel like Paris is warmly embracing the Paralympic movement to the heart of this city and the core of this country.”
The ceremony ended with an official opening by French President Emmanuel Macron before a final performance by dancers portraying athletes in white tracksuits, before the raising of the Paralympic flag along to the event’s anthem.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is live and free on Channel 9, 9Gem and 9Now and ad-free on Stan Sport.
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