PARIS — Under dry skies and a cool summer breeze, the Paralympic opening ceremony opened Wednesday at the Place de la Concorde.
It was quite the juxtaposition from the rainy Olympic opening ceremony that took place just over a month ago. It fit the theme for the night.
Taking place in a square formerly named Place de la Révolution, the ceremony called for a revolution in para-athletics, beginning the event with “discord” and finishing with “concord.” The almost four-hour event took those watching on a journey that focused on the inclusion of those with disability.
The outdoor venue offered the perfect environment for the first Paralympic opening ceremony outside of a stadium, and in the heart of its host city.
French President Emmanuel Macron declared the 2024 Paralympic Games open at 10:37 p.m. local time, 4:37 ET, setting off the 11-day event which will feature 168 delegations and 4,400 Paralympians. From dance numbers to videos highlighting the lack of inclusion for the disabled, the opening ceremony had a wide variety of segments highlighting the 2024 theme “Paradox: From Discord to Concord.”
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There was a lot happening, and even more so to accommodate the simultaneous performances at just one site — many of which were not visible on NBC’s broadcast. So, here are five things you missed on the broadcast.
Getting into the ceremony
The City of Lights hosted a memorable Paralympic Games opening ceremony at the iconic Place de la Concorde and Champs-Élysées. Unlike the Olympics, the ceremony was a free public event to honor the Games’ mission of inclusivity and accessibility.
The inclusivity did come with a couple of hiccups. Spectators had long, chaotic lines getting through security to enter the outdoor venue. As the ceremony continued, the stands continued to fill with 15,000 spectators while 35,000 people filled the square.
On stage, the event was a visually stunning spectacle. Artistic director Thomas Jolly and creative director Alexander Ekman crafted a program meant to reflect not only the culture of the home country but also to embrace the place that those with disabilities have in society.
The entrances between some of the artists and the spectators varied.
As performers filed in, NBC viewers saw a video of former Paralympian and TV actor Théo Curin carlifting other Paralympians on his journey to the ceremony, all of whom were French.
Sporting a red Toyota covered with replicas of the Paralympic mascot “Phryge,” Curin swept into the outdoor venue and left the same way he came — down a street toward the Bassin Octogonal.
After he left, there was a jarring shift in music before the red car returned about 14 minutes into the show, dropping off artist Christine and the Queens.
Fans get to interact with athletes
Not featured for the majority of the broadcast was the fans’ interactions with athletes as they went through the parade.
The Brazilian supporters were especially boisterous. The athletes started the wave with the fans and played off the visiting crowd’s energy as they entered. Canada and Denmark’s delegation also had fun interacting with fans during the parade of athletes.
The home-country France, of course, received the loudest ovation when they entered the stadium to a spirited rendition of Les Champs-Elysees as the crowd welcomed their own.
All-in-all, the night felt like a large festival environment for the attendees. Fans danced with one another in the stands and participated in chants and songs throughout the almost four-hour ceremony.
Turning over sets
Unlike the Olympics, where performances unfolded across different venues, the Paralympic opening ceremony required coordination behind the scenes to transform sets and move on to the next act.
While the fans and cameras were focused on the display of red, white and blue smoke from French flyer jets that enveloped the arena, an army of volunteers quickly swept away debris and dust left over from the spectacle.
The props and scenery also required a lot of work out of sight to make sure the event ran smoothly. Performers went behind the stage to quietly grab canes while the show on the main stage continued — unbeknownst to the viewer. There were also officials along the sides of the venue who made sure performers were able to get in and out of the stage with little slowdown.
Athletes exit after parade
Members of the American delegation passed up their seats following the parade, opting for the exit. When you view the Paralympic schedule, the option to leave makes sense.
The Paralympics get started with para-badminton at 8:30 a.m. local time, a pretty tight turnaround from the opening ceremony that was pushing midnight. The Americans weren’t alone.
Several countries begin play early in the morning, and the Chinese delegation had more open seats than when the parade began.
Where’s the torch?
For most in the outdoor venue, the NBC broadcast displayed on circular screens offered helpful views. Once the cauldron — which also lit up the skies during the Olympic Games — took flight on Wednesday, it was the only time many in the venue could see it.
As the broadcast concluded, fans saw a celebratory scene to cap off the successful night of ringing in the Paralympic Games.