The Paris Paralympics open in blaze of colour
Al Jazeera
The opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics has been held in the centre of the French capital, firing the starting gun on 11 days of intense competition.
Just as for the opening ceremony of the Olympics on the Seine in July, it took place away from the main stadium for the first time at a Paralympics.
In balmy weather – in contrast to the heavy rain that blighted the opening of the Olympics on July 26 – the games opened on Wednesday night in Place de la Concorde in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron.
When the sporting action begins on Thursday, a new generation of Paralympians will join seasoned veterans competing in many of the same venues that hosted Olympic sports.
A total of 18 of the 35 Olympic venues will be used for the Paralympics, which will run until September 8, including the Grand Palais, which scored rave reviews for its hosting of the fencing and taekwondo under an ornate roof.
