Théo Curin, Christine and the Queens, the lighting of the cauldron… discover 11 unforgettable scenes from the ceremony that lit Paris

Paris after heavy rain July 26, during the opening ceremony of the Olympic GamesWednesday, August 28, will be mild. Opening of the Paralympics. A total of 140 dancers (including 16 disabled people) and 4,400 disabled athletes from 182 delegations took part in the evening, which was carefully planned by Thomas Jolly. Artistic Director of the Paris Olympic Opening CeremonyAlexander Ekman, Swedish choreographer, and composer Victor Le Masne, Origin of the Olympic AnthemAll athletes set out from the legendary Champs-Elysées to the Place de la Concorde.

The show, titled Paradox, lasted more than three hours and was designed to release “Heroic clichés about people with disabilities because accepting everyday challenges is not heroic (…) related to social and urban barriers”“, explains Thomas Joly. From disharmony to harmony. The arrival of the French delegation, the performances of Christine and the queens, the lighting of the Olympic flame… discover 11 memorable moments from the Paralympic Opening Ceremony.

Théo Curin starts the night in his taxi

Mixing symbols and humor to assist swimmers Théo Curin arrives in a red taxi Completely covered with fluff Frigis Paralympics. is a direct reference to his show “Théo Le Taxi” on French television, in which he hosts athletes in the passenger seat of his car and interviews them. In this sequence, several disabled athletes follow in turn, such as Charles-Antoine Kouakou, 2021 Gold Medal Winners Nélia Barbosa, 25 canoeists in the 400m T20 race at the Tokyo Paralympics answer, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist.

Pianist Chilly Gonzales sets the tone

In the opening ceremony, entitled “Disharmony”, the authors of the ceremony wanted to show the paradox of our society, which continues to stigmatize people with disabilities despite our desire to include them. To do this, they staged a face-to-face performance with more than 140 dancers dressed in black on one side, embodying a rigid society that resists change. On the other side, 16 disabled performers symbolized openness and freedom. All, on Countdowna piece composed by Victor Le Masne and performed by Canadian jazz pianist Chilly Gonzales.

Christine and Queen perform Edith Piaf’s No, I Have No Regrets

Edith Piaf is once again in the spotlight. I was very moved after watching it. Love Hymn Celine Dion sings At the end of the Olympic opening ceremonyThen Under the Paris Sky De Zaho De Sagasan Closure periodChristine and the Queen reenacted No, I don’t regret anything..

French delegation ends march on Place de la Concorde

After parading from the bottom of the Champs-Elysees, the Paralympians and Frigis marched on the Place de la Concorde, with the Afghan delegation leading the way. At the foot of the obelisk, French DJ Myda, carrying a giant tricolor flag on her shoulders, remixed French pop songs, e.g. I love you Author: Johnny HallydayWho lights up the stadium during the Olympics?), Champs-Elysees Joe Dassin even take me Charles Aznavour.

People with disabilities talk about their daily lives

A series of moving testimonies played out on the big screen. “We are no different from anyone else.”affim Lucy Retailhad all four limbs amputated due to severe malaria. “I discovered a lot in sports”” Then, Serge Bec, the first French fencer to win the Paralympic Games in 1964, explained: “I’m a Paralympic champion, of course, I’m not proud of it, but it’s still an honour.”

‘When I was blind, I felt like everyone treated me differently’tells Canadian influencer Molly Burke in a second video that she has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease that causes blindness: “People I pass on the street will talk to my mum or dad instead of me. They’ll act like I’m stupid or can’t understand, and I think it’s important to show everyone how normal I am.”

Lucky Love Concorde

He was reportedly a favourite of Juliette Armanet and Béatrice Dalle France 3 Hauts-de-FranceLille singer Lucky Love suffers from agenesis, a rare uterine malformation that caused him to be born without a left arm. Disruption of the Place de la Concorde and audience interpretation My abilityaccompanied by a choir and the Matthews Orchestra.

Emmanuel Macron officially opens the Paralympic Games

“I declare open the 2024 Paralympic Games”Emmanuel Macron made the customary announcement. The French president spoke after speeches by Paris 2024 Olympic Committee President Tony Estinger and International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.

John McFaul, who dreams of becoming a paratrooper, brings the Paralympic flag

The Paralympic flag was carried onto the stage by a former Paralympic athlete with an extraordinary background. John McFaul, an orthopedic surgeon and 2008 Beijing 100m bronze medalist, was chosen to be the first disabled astronaut. The shield representing the symbol of the Games, “Agitos”, was raised, and the Paralympic anthem was played.

The flame arrives at Sébastien Tellier’s “La Ritournelle”

After a three-hour ceremony, the sacred fire appeared. Florent Manaudou had the honor of launching the final relay Hotel Lithuanellethe legendary song by French composer Sébastien Tellier. He then passed the flame to the head of the French delegation, Michaël Jérémiasz, who passed it to Italian fencer Béatrice Vio, who passed it to American parachutist Oksana Masters.

The flame has been held by 1 person before 000 operators Since the fire was lit in Stoke Mandeville, EnglandAugust 24, the birthplace of the Paralympics.

Five French disabled athletes light the Olympic cauldron

After Teddy Riner and Marie-José Pérec During the Olympic Games Opening CeremonyFive Paralympic athletes were the last to light the Olympic flame in the Tuileries Gardens. Thus, the two flag bearers of the French delegation, Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keita, were joined by athletes Charles-Antoine Kouaku, swimmer Elodie Lorandi and table tennis player Fabian Ramiro in front of the flame. Famous Balloons It took off again in the skies of Paris during the Paralympics.

Christine and Queen closed the evening with “Born to Be Alive”

Christine and the Queens, Also known by his stage name Chris or Redcarending the night with the sound of a planet crashing Born to livewritten by French singer Patrick Hernandez in 1978. It was in this disco hit that dancers and performers set the Place de la Concorde on fire in a frenetic ballet in wheelchairs, leaving streaks of color and transforming the stage into a giant canvas.