This photograph on July 26, 2024 shows the Agitos, the symbol of the Paralympic Games on the Arc de … [+]
POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Olympics have concluded, but Paris 2024 is far from finished.
From August 28 to September 8, the Paralympics will be held in Paris, using many of the same iconic venues viewers saw during the Olympics. Around 4,400 athletes will compete in 22 sports (and 23 disciplines, to include para cycling road and track).
Thomas Jolly, the same artistic director who oversaw the Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies, is spearheading the ceremonies for the Paralympics.
Jolly’s Olympic Opening Ceremony stirred controversy. Some interpreted a scene featuring drag queens gathered around a long table with a blue man at the center as mocking The Last Supper, while Jolly and Paris 2024 organizers said via the official X account it was an “interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus.”
French president Emmanuel Macron and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed support for Jolly and the performers.
Jolly’s Closing Ceremony also contained provocative imagery and allusions, with Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova objecting to what she perceived as “obvious satanism” during the Golden Voyager performance.
Viewers also objected to the ceremony’s “headless angel,” which was actually a replica of the Niké of Samothrace sculpture that is on display at the Louvre.
In a more universally crowd-pleasing turn, the Closing Ceremony also featured a stunt by Tom Cruise, who dropped into the Stade de France from the roof, as Paris 2024 handed off hosting duties to LA28.
Jolly has been as tight-lipped about what is in store for the Paralympics ceremonies as he was for the Olympics, saying only that they will be “a spectacle that will showcase the Paralympic athletes and the values that they embody. A spectacle that will unite spectators and television audiences worldwide around the unique spirit of the Paralympic Games.”
But there’s no question that he has captured the world’s attention as organizers prepare to stage another outdoor Opening Ceremony.
Everything you need to know about the Paralympics Opening Ceremony is below.
Paralympics Opening Ceremony Date and Time
The Paralympics Opening Ceremony will take place the evening of Wednesday, August 28. The Olympics website lists the start time as 20:00 p.m. CEST (2 p.m. ET), though that time is “to be confirmed.”
The Opening Ceremony ticketing platform lists the run time of the event as three hours, 20:00 to 23:00 CEST.
The Olympics Opening Ceremony lasted nearly four hours, but the Olympics featured 10,500 athletes, while only 4,400 will compete in the Paralympics, so the Parade of Nations will likely move more quickly.
Of course, for the Olympics Opening Ceremony, athletes floated down the Seine on boats.
While the Paralympics Opening Ceremony will also take place outside and not in a stadium, athletes from 180 delegations will parade from the Champs-Elysées to the Place de la Concorde (which hosted BMX freestyle, breaking and skateboarding competitions during the Olympics).
Paralympics Opening Ceremony Tickets
Paris 2024 expects 65,000 spectators for the Paralympics Opening Ceremony. Anyone can watch the Parade of Nations for free along the Champs-Elysées (though viewers will presumably have to arrive very early to secure a spot).
Ticket holders will then see the athletes arrive at the Place de la Concorde, along with the protocol and artistic sequences.
Opening Ceremony tickets with reserved seating are still available through Paris 2024’s ticketing platform. The lowest tier, Category C tickets, cost 150 euros but are currently unavailable. Category B tickets are 450 euros, and Category A tickets are priced at 700 euros.
The seatmap is not yet available.
Opening Ceremony hospitality packages through On Location start at 1,500 euros and include Category B reserved seats (or Category A for 2,400 euros), an on-site hospitality lounge and a buffet-style menu with beer, wine and soft drinks. The ceremony itself is not visible from the lounge, but there are TV screens.
Opening Ceremony TV and Streaming Schedule
The Opening Ceremony can be streamed on Peacock and viewed live on USA Network.
NBC plans to host more than 1,500 hours of Paralympics live coverage on Peacock.
For the Paralympics competitions, TV and streaming info is as follows:
- TV: NBC, USA Network, E!, Telemundo, CNBC and Golf Channel (select events)
- Streaming: Peacock (all events)
Viewers can also watch via the Paralympic YouTube Channel and the International Paralympic Committee website (though geo-blocking policies may apply).