“Memorable”, “full of emotion”… The French and international press hails a “grandiose” opening ceremony

The official kick-off of the Paris Paralympic Games on Wednesday evening at Place de la Concorde delighted observers, who noted that it was less unique than the one on the Seine, but rather a visual and symbolic success.

Different setting, same grandiose spectacle. After a highly commented opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, between visual slap and strong societal impact, that of the Paralympic Games, Wednesday August 28, was also hailed by the national and international press. With the Champs-Elysées and the Place de la Concorde as the main setting to take over from the Seine, the evening launched the competition brilliantly.

The front pages of the French media highlight – much more than the international press – a ceremony “powerful“, “full of emotion” describe The Teamwhich headlines hugely on its front page: “In heaven” with the burning of the cauldron as a backdrop. The sports daily is enthusiastic about a “first awesome painting“, opening an evening which gave pride of place to a “hypnotic choreography of sport and all forms of movement“.

The Parisian follows in his footsteps on the “magical night“lived in the capital: “A deluge of colors, a crazy atmosphere in the heart of a scene magnificently deployed around the Obelisk“. “Tens of thousands of spectators, drunk with happiness, are finally getting caught up in the Games“, insists the newspaper. In the region too, we are pleased with a “big show” For Alsaceof a “enchanted parade” for the Free Midior even a “sparkling start” for the Western Mail.

Abroad, too, this colourful and joyful ceremony attracted praise.Paris puts on its finest attire to celebrate the ‘Paralympic Revolution’“, headlines the Belgian daily The evening in his summary of the evening.Paris celebrated the 2024 Paralympic Games with a memorable opening ceremony, where inclusion and diversity were in the spotlight. In a festive atmosphere, artists and athletes lit up the capital, delivering a powerful message of unity and change.” “Music and dance were at the heart of this whole show, both militant and festive.“, adds the Swiss daily The Time.

The Italian newspaper Corriere della Serafor his part pays tribute to the master of ceremonies Thomas Jolly, “the child prodigy of rural France who defied Parisian snobbery by pushing the limits of kitsch, [qui] once again amazed outside the confines of a stadium, in the middle of the city.” Her “Journey from Discord to Concord“, taken up by the Guardian British was received very positively.

Across the Channel, this opening ceremony already makes us think about the rest of these Paralympic Games. Times. “Will these Paralympics bring about changes in society? Will they be the stage for exciting competitions that rival London 2012, as the Olympic Games did? ? Will they do both? We’ll find out over the next eleven days, with over two million viewers expected. For now, there’s certainly good music and goodwill galore.“

A small downside highlighted by several publications, the evening is sometimes described as “less ambitious than the opening of the Olympic Games on the Seine a month ago” notably by the Brazilian daily São Paulo Newspaperwho nevertheless considers that “the party was no less grandiose“. “The opening night of the 2024 Paralympic Games will certainly also be remembered as one of the best memories.“, finally validates The evening.

It should be noted that in the United States, where the next Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place in Los Angeles, the ceremony had only a very measured impact. After having been enchanted by that of the Olympic Games, the New York Times did not devote any article to it, when the LA Timeswho wondered how the City of Angels would measure up in four years, settled for a very factual summary from the Associated Press.