FIRST PARALYMPIC DAY AT THE BASTILLE BEFORE PARIS 2024

The Paralympic athletes had an appointment at Place de la Bastille, with Parisians and tourists, on the first Paralympic day, on October 8 between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. It was an opportunity to meet the Paralympic athletes, learn about the performances and exploits of the champions, and learn about handisport. and prepare for the 2024 Paris Games.

This event was organized by the Ministry of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF) and the city of Paris, a unique opportunity for the general public to discover the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games which would take place in 2 years, from August 28 to September 8, 2024.

They were in the Place de la Bastille

During this first day, the public was able to meet 160 champions present such as Marie Patouillet (Para cycling, world champion in track para-cycling and multi-medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games), Arnaud Assoumani (Para athletics, long jump in her category (T46/T47) 7.58m and triple jump, multi-medalist at the Paralympic Games in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012), Sandrine Martinet (Para judo, silver medal and team flag bearer of France at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games). Nelia Barbosa (Para canoeing, silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games), Maxime Verlet (armchair fencing, bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games), Mandy François Elie (Para athletics), Alexis Hanquinquant (Para Triathlon, medal gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games), Benjamin Daviet (Paralympic Para Nordic skiing champion, flag bearer for the French team at Beijing 2022)

Among the exploits and performances, the spectators followed those of Perle Bouge (silver medalist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and bronze medalist at Rio 2016 in para-rowing, world record holder in trunk and arm rowing over 500 meters with a time of 1’46), Markus Rehm (three-time Paralympic champion in the long jump in the F42/44 category at the Paralympic Games in London 2012 and Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, also Paralympic gold medalist in the 4x100m in 2016. Sacré 5 time World Disabled Champion in the long run and twice in the 4x100m but also European medalist several times. On this 1st Paralympic day, he jumped 8.02m in front of the spectators. He was accompanied by the Greek Stélios Malakopoulos, record holder of the world long jump in its category (T62) at 7.02m

Olympic athletes were also present for demonstrations. Among them Martin Fourcade (biathlon), or Romain Cannone (fencing) or Florent Manaudou (swimming).

Paralympic sports

So that the public can try out the various para-sports. more than fifteen discovery activities were offered on the Place de la Bastille by the sports federations of wheelchair basketball, boccia, blind football, wheelchair fencing, para-athletics, para-rowing, para-badminton. para judo, para table tennis, wheelchair tennis, para triathlon and sitting volleyball… or even those that are not on the official program of the Games such as Para climbing, wheelchair BMX, wheelchair handball, showdown or laser run.

The event was hosted by Maxine Eouzan, former Olympic acrobatic gymnastics champion, and Michaël Jeremiaz, Paralympic wheelchair tennis champion. Entertainment was provided on stage by comedian Artus, dancing with Fauve Hautot and Sami El Gueddari, breakdance with Bboy Halper and Bboy Caesar and concerts by DJ MYd and Chilla and acrobatics with Karim Randé.

Accessibility

The event was aimed at a public with reduced mobility but also at all, which is why the speeches were translated into sign language. A reception was reserved for people with specific needs, wheelchairs were made available.

Personalities

• Many personalities are presented on the event proposed by the City of Paris and the CPSF and the Ministry of Sports.
• Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024
• Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
• Marie-Amélie Le Fur, President of the French Paralympic Committee (CPF)
• Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
• Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games
• Jean-Christophe Combes, Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Disabled People
• Clément Beaune, Minister Delegate in charge of Transport
• Geneviève Darrieussecq, Minister Delegate for People with Disabilities to the Minister for Solidarity, Autonomy and People with Disabilities
• Valérie Pécresse, President of the Ile-de-France region

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VERONIQUE YANG

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