Athletes light Paris Paralympics cauldron signalling beginning of Games

Five French athletes came together to light the cauldron signalling the beginning of the Paris Paralympics at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, 28 August.

Charles-Antoine Kouakou, Alexis Hanquinquant, Fabien Lamirault, Nantenin Keïta, and Elodie Lorandi ignited the flames at Jardin des Tuileries between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.

It followed an athletes’ parade, during which thousands of competitors travelled down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in front of an estimated 65,000 spectators.

The competition begins on Thursday and continues until the closing ceremony on Sunday, 8 September.