The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games begins with a colourful opening ceremony as Nigeria contingents join their counterpart in parading the iconic Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde on Wednesday, 28 August 2024, Sports 247 reports.
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The Paralympics opening ceremony which was held outside of a stadium for the first time in the French capital just like that of the Summer Olympics was described as the start of the Paralympic revolution” led by the athletes by Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee.
About 4,400 athletes from a record 168 delegations are set to take part in the 22 Paralympic sports, competing for a total of 549 gold medals in Paris.
The first of 11 days of sporting action takes place on Thursday as Team Nigeria will begin their quest to add to the 80 medals, (comprising 40 golds, 19 Silver and 21 bronze medals) haul the country has amassed since Nigeria’s first appearance in 1992.
Nigeria’s Mariam Bolaji will be kicking Nigeria campaign as she takes on Mandeep Maur in the Women’s Singles SL3 Badminton in Group B of the group stage at 9 am
By 10:10 am it will be the turn of Chigozie Jeremiah Nnanna as he takes on Germany’s Marcel Adam
Men’s singles SL4
Badminton in Group C
Men’s Double MD14 Table tennis will take center stage at noon as the duo of Victor Farinloye and
Kayode Alabi battle
Peng Weinan and
Huang Jiaxin of China for points in the Round of 16.
Finally on the day by 1:30 pm, it will be the turn of Kayode Alabi and
Faith Obazuaye to face Britain duo of Bly Twomey and Joshua Stacey in the Round of 32 of Table tennis Mixed Doubles XD17 events.
Nigeria will be competing in Para-Athletics, Para-Badminton, Para-Powerlifting and Para-Table Tennis at the games.
