PARIS: The 2024 Paralympics were opened in Paris on Wednesday (Aug 28) by French President Emmanuel Macron, firing the starting gun on 11 days of competition in a city still riding the wave of the successful Olympics. Macron declared the Games open during an exuberant and colourful opening ceremony in a balmy Place de la Concorde in central Paris -- the first time a Paralympic opening ceremony has taken place away from the main stadium. The 4,400 athletes from 168 delegations paraded into the arena as the sun set with host nation France entering last to a standing ovation and chanting from 30,000 spectators packed into the stands around the square.