The Paris Paralympics declared open by President Macron

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.

The ceremony will culminate with the lighting of the cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens, which has become a huge attraction since its debut at the Olympics.

A total of 18 of the 35 Olympic venues will be used for the Paralympics, which run until Sep 8, including the ornate Grand Palais and the Stade de France.

Ticket sales have picked up since the Olympics and organisers say more than two million of the 2.5 million available have been sold, with several venues sold out.

Riding the wave of its Olympic team's success, host nation France is aiming for a substantial improvement on the 11 golds it won in 2021, which left it 14th in the medals table.

Paralympic powerhouse China dominated the last Paralympics in Tokyo with 96 golds and has again sent a strong delegation.

Ukraine, traditionally one of the top medal-winning nations at the Paralympics, has sent a team of 140 athletes to compete in 17 sports despite the challenges they face in preparing as the war against Russian forces rages at home.

A total of 96 athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete under a neutral banner but are