Monday marked the start of the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games. The event is set to proceed as planned on August 28 at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées, with some 4,000 athletes and 65,000 spectators expected to attend.
“It will be a spectacle that will showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values that they embody,” said theater director Thomas Jolly, who is set to choreograph the procession.
Despite the excitement, organizers are looking to boost ticket sales, having sold only one-third of the total 90,000 tickets available. They anticipate that 40 percent of the tickets will be sold after the Olympic Games conclude on August 11, mirroring the trend observed during the London 2012 Paralympics.
While ticket sales may be lower than expected, broadcasting rights for the 22-sport Paralympics have been sold to a record 160 nations and territories, indicating strong global interest in the Games.
Some of the world’s most renowned Paralympians are set to compete in Paris, including Italian fencer Bebe Vio, American archer Matt Stutzman, known as the “armless archer,” and German long jumper Markus Rehm, often referred to as the “blade jumper.”
In preparation for the influx of athletes and spectators, organizers and transport authorities are working diligently to enhance security measures and improve accessibility for disabled attendees throughout the city.
On Monday, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation held a meeting for participating Chinese Paralympians to brief them on the team’s overall preparations. Chinese athletes have qualified for 19 of the 22 sports to be contested at the Games.
Reference(s):
Paris Paralympics: Organizers aim to boost ticket sales, accessibility
cgtn.com
