Paralympics Opening Ceremony: How to Watch and Key Information You Should Have
Coverage of the opening ceremony will start at 1 p.m. EDT on USA Network and will also be available for streaming on Peacock. The ceremony itself will commence at 2 p.m. EDT. Peacock is the official streaming platform for the Games, offering live coverage of all events and full replays for those unable to watch live. The Paralympics will also be broadcast live on NBC, CNBC, and USA Network.
Who Are the Team USA Flag Bearers?
Nicky Nieves, a gold medalist in sitting volleyball, will serve as the women's flag bearer for Team USA. Steve Serio, a gold medalist in sitting basketball, will be the men's flag bearer.
Similar to this year's Olympic opening ceremony, the 2024 Paris Paralympics will mark the first time the event takes place outside a stadium. However, instead of a boat procession, athletes will march along the Champs-Elysées to the ceremony in Place de la Concorde. According to Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for both the Olympics and Paralympics opening ceremonies, the event will "celebrate Paralympic athletes and the values they represent." While the names of the performers are yet to be disclosed, Jolly has promised "unprecedented performances" in a "spectacle that will bring together viewers around the globe, highlighting the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games."
Key Background
The Paralympics originated in 1946 at a veterans' hospital near London in Stoke Mandeville, with the first official Games taking place in Rome in 1960. Traditionally held about two weeks after the Olympics, the Paralympics have been hosted in the same city and venues as the Olympics since 1988. Athletes compete in various sports that have Olympic counterparts, such as para-triathlon and wheelchair basketball, while goalball and boccia are exclusive to the Paralympics. Goalball, designed for athletes with visual impairments, involves two teams competing on a court with nets at each end, scoring by rolling a ball into the opponent's goal. All players wear eyeshades for fair play, and the ball contains bells to help players track its movement through sound. Boccia is played by athletes with severe motor impairments, who score points by rolling a leather ball as close as possible to a smaller white ball called a jack.
Surprising Fact
In certain events, such as para-cycling and para-triathlon, visually impaired athletes are paired with sighted guides for assistance. Since 2012, these guides have also been eligible for medals.
Original Source >>>> Forbes
