The Paralympic flame has been lit by British Paralympians, Helen Rainsford and Gregor Ewan in Stoke Mandeville. Northwest London Village is widely considered to be the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. The first form of which was founded by Jewish neurosurgeon Ludwig Guttman in 1948 for wheelchair athletes with war related spinal injuries for everyone involved in paralympic movements. Do mande represents sacred and cherished ground. It is here *** leader over 76 years that the visionary pioneer, Sir Ludwig Gutman created the para movement. I don’t know about you guys, but I can feel his presence here today. No doubt about it. The flame will now travel to France under the English channel where it will be split into 12 flames that each will follow their own route through the different regions of France before reuniting in Paris for the Paralympics opening ceremony.
How to watch the 2024 Paris Paralympics opening ceremony
Updated: 1:12 PM CDT Aug 28, 2024
Let the games begin again!The Paralympic Games are set to open Wednesday as some 4,400 athletes with disabilities, permanent injuries or impairments prepare to compete for 549 medals across 22 sports over 11 days in Paris.Above video: Paralympians light the flame at the birthplace of the games in EnglandThe French capital, which just hosted the Olympics, again provides the backdrop for what promises to be another spectacle, with many of the same venues hosting Paralympic competitions.Historic square Place de la Concorde will host the opening ceremony. For the first time in Paralympic history, the Opening Ceremony will take place outside of a stadium. The parade of nations will feature many of Paris’s iconic landmarks, including the Champs-Elysees.How to watchCoverage of the 2024 Paris Paralympics will kick off at 12 p.m. CST Wednesday on USA Network with a preview show.The Opening Ceremony will air live at 1 p.m. CST on USA Network.An encore presentation will air on NBC in primetime on Friday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. CST.Paris Preview Show | 12-1 p.m. CST| Watch live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.comOpening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics(LIVE) | 1-4:30 p.m. CST | Watch live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.comOpening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics(Enhanced encore) | 8-10 p.m. CST| Watch live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.comOf the 22 Paralympic sports, only two do not have an Olympic equivalent — goalball and boccia. In goalball, teams of visually impaired or blind players take turns rolling a ball containing bells toward the opposing goal while the defending team’s players act as goalkeepers. In boccia, players throw or roll leather balls as close as they can to a small ball called a jack.Compared to the previous edition of the Paralympics in Tokyo, 10 medal events have been added to give female athletes and those with high-support needs more opportunities.Alabama ParalympiansThere are more than a dozen Paralympians with ties to Alabama competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. They are competing not just for Team USA, but for countries around the globe. Many para-athletes are competing in wheelchair basketball and have been a part of the program at the University of Alabama.Stay with WVTM 13 throughout the games for the latest Paralympics coverage. Paralympians training in Central AlabamaLakeshore Foundation’s Sports Science and Performance Center aims to close the sports equity gap for athletes with disabilities, offering a range of advanced services.Mary Allison Cook is a former Paralympian who works at Lakeshore, having competed on the U.S. wheelchair basketball team. Cook says designing a program, like a nutrition program for an athlete with disabilities, is not the same as designing a program for an able athlete. The data they gather at SSPC will translate to knowledge beneficial for the entire community.“If you’re training for the Olympics, come on. You’re training for the Paralympics, come on. If you’re training to try to make your local sports team, come on. We are open to everyone,” Cook said when the facility opened in January.
Let the games begin again!
The Paralympic Games are set to open Wednesday as some 4,400 athletes with disabilities, permanent injuries or impairments prepare to compete for 549 medals across 22 sports over 11 days in Paris.
Above video: Paralympians light the flame at the birthplace of the games in England
The French capital, which just hosted the Olympics, again provides the backdrop for what promises to be another spectacle, with many of the same venues hosting Paralympic competitions.
Historic square Place de la Concorde will host the opening ceremony. For the first time in Paralympic history, the Opening Ceremony will take place outside of a stadium. The parade of nations will feature many of Paris’s iconic landmarks, including the Champs-Elysees.
How to watch
Coverage of the 2024 Paris Paralympics will kick off at 12 p.m. CST Wednesday on USA Network with a preview show.
The Opening Ceremony will air live at 1 p.m. CST on USA Network.
An encore presentation will air on NBC in primetime on Friday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. CST.
Of the 22 Paralympic sports, only two do not have an Olympic equivalent — goalball and boccia. In goalball, teams of visually impaired or blind players take turns rolling a ball containing bells toward the opposing goal while the defending team’s players act as goalkeepers. In boccia, players throw or roll leather balls as close as they can to a small ball called a jack.
Compared to the previous edition of the Paralympics in Tokyo, 10 medal events have been added to give female athletes and those with high-support needs more opportunities.
Alabama Paralympians
There are more than a dozen Paralympians with ties to Alabama competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
They are competing not just for Team USA, but for countries around the globe.
Many para-athletes are competing in wheelchair basketball and have been a part of the program at the University of Alabama.
Stay with WVTM 13 throughout the games for the latest Paralympics coverage.
Paralympians training in Central Alabama
Lakeshore Foundation’s Sports Science and Performance Center aims to close the sports equity gap for athletes with disabilities, offering a range of advanced services.
Mary Allison Cook is a former Paralympian who works at Lakeshore, having competed on the U.S. wheelchair basketball team. Cook says designing a program, like a nutrition program for an athlete with disabilities, is not the same as designing a program for an able athlete. The data they gather at SSPC will translate to knowledge beneficial for the entire community.
“If you’re training for the Olympics, come on. You’re training for the Paralympics, come on. If you’re training to try to make your local sports team, come on. We are open to everyone,” Cook said when the facility opened in January.