Paris 2024 Paralympic Games open; record number of Japanese delegation attends opening ceremony

PARIS — The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games kicked off on Wednesday. Although Paris has hosted the Olympic Games three times, this is the first time the city will host the Paralympic Games.

Para-athletes, who have trained their bodies to the limit, attended the opening ceremony with relaxed expressions.

Japan sent 175 athletes, the largest overseas team ever to the Summer Paralympics, aiming to take home more medals than the record 52 it won at the 2004 Games in Athens.

At the ceremony, which began at 8 p.m., swimmer An Nishida, 27, and long jumper Daiki Ishiyama, 24, led the Japanese delegation as flag bearers. The French delegation, which included the Refugee Paralympic Team, rounded out the parade.

The Japanese delegation was the 76th to enter the Place de la Concorde. Dressed in white coats with a Rising Sun motif on the left breast pocket, the Japanese athletes waved to the stands in response to the cheers of the spectators.

Tokito Oda, an 18-year-old wheelchair tennis player and Paralympian who is tipped as the favorite to win gold, occasionally striking a triumphant pose for the assembled crowd.

Oda won his second consecutive French Open at Roland Garros in June, where the Paralympic tennis events are being held. He is also aiming for gold in the wheelchair doubles with partner Takuya Miki, 35.

“We will have more impact than the Olympic Games,” he said with great determination.

During the Paralympic Games, which run until September 8, a total of 549 events in 22 sports will be held.