The opening ceremony of the 17th Paris Paralympic Games on Wednesday night will feature six national para-athletes and their four coaches showcasing their best. This spectacular outdoor celebration is scheduled to take place at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées in Paris, France.
After the festive opening, para swimmer Ernie Gawilan, para archer Agustina Bantiloc, and their teammates Jerold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, Angel Mae Otom, and Allain Ganapin will refocus on their main objective: competing at the highest level.
The coaches of taekwondo, archery, track and field, and swimming—Gershon Bautista, Jonathan Josol, Berson Buen, and Brian Ong, respectively—will also be supporting the Filipino team, which is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The event, which starts at 8 p.m., is significant, as emphasized by Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet, who said, “To highlight the achievements and values of Paralympic athletes, Paris 2024 is hosting the first Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony outside of a stadium.” The event is anticipated to attract roughly 500,000 spectators, with the broadcast reaching Manila around 2 a.m. on Thursday.
Like the Olympic opening ceremony created by artistic director Thomas Jolly, the Paralympic Games ceremony is expected to be colorful and captivating.
Reaching the global stage of the Paralympic Games is a noteworthy accomplishment. The “Sensational Six” are among 4,350 athletes from 168 nations competing in this esteemed competition. They represent the aspirations of underprivileged groups in Philippine society as well as Filipino fans.
Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo expressed hope that the success of the Olympians would inspire the Paralympians. “We pray that our athletes excel more than ever before,” he said. Barredo also expressed gratitude to PSC Chairman Dickie Bachmann for ensuring that the athletes had enough time in France to acclimatize to their new surroundings.
Bachmann, who is in Paris to support the team, praised the para-athletes for their dedication and determination. “They have shown immense resolve to prove that they belong among the elite in the Paralympic Games,” he added.
Para archer Agustina Bantiloc will be the first to compete, participating in the women’s compound event at the shooting range in Les Invalides, a historic military facility in France.
