Paris 2024: Weight of Palestinian hopes resting on Deeb's shoulders

On a night of fanfare and spectacular moments during Wednesday's Paralympic Games opening ceremony, there was one man who seemed to capture hearts and minds like no other.

As the 168 team delegations flowed down the splendid Avenue des Champs-Élysées and down to the iconic Place de La Concorde, one group – to use the word liberally - in particular caught the eye.

Only four athletes have represented Palestine since their National Paralympic Committee debuted at the 2000 Games, but a fifth, Fadi Deeb, will join that select band later today in the men’s shot put.

As the only member of Team Palestine, his role as flag bearer was never in doubt, with the throngs of supporters offering up some of the biggest cheers of the night for the wheelchair user.

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As striking as that was in itself, even allowing for the breath of incredible tales among the competitors, Deeb’s journey sets him apart.

Shot in the spine by an Israeli sniper in 2001, the sports-mad 17-year-old was left paralysed.

Para basketball was his first love before falling into shot put, yet sport is almost a platform to showcase the difficulties in his homeland.

Born in Gaza, conflict has always been part of his life, but since the conflict between Israel and Hamas, more than 40,000 people have lost their lives. The injured numbers are significantly more.

Deeb has lost more than 15 family members since last October, including his brother and nephew.

An accomplished wheelchair basketballer – he has played in Turkey, Greece and