Paris hosts opening ceremony of 2024 Paralympic Games

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympics took place in Paris on August 28.

According to Report, the event began on the Champs-Elysées avenue. For the first time, the ceremony was held outside a stadium and concluded at the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

Azerbaijan's proud flag bearers at the ceremony were para-taekwondo athlete Imamaddin Khalilov and para-athlete Lamiya Valiyeva.

The nation will be represented by a formidable contingent of 18 athletes across 7 sports disciplines.

The Azerbaijani delegation includes para-taekwondo stars Sabir Zeynalov (58 kg), Imamaddin Khalilov (70 kg), and Abulfaz Abuzarli (80 kg), along with para-swimmers Konul Suleymanova, Raman Saley, and Vali Israfilov. Para-judokas Dursadaf Karimova (+70 kg), Khatira Ismiyeva (+70 kg), and Ilham Zakiyev (+90 kg) will also showcase their skills.

In para-athletics, Rufat Rafiyev and Olokhan Musayev will compete in shot put, while Said Najafzada and Orkhan Aslanov will participate in long jump. Lamiya Valiyeva is set to sprint in the 100m and 400m events. Kamran Zeynalov and Aybaniz Babayeva will represent Azerbaijan in para-shooting, with Jahan Musayev aiming for glory in para-archery. Jeyhun Mahmudov (54 kg) will demonstrate his strength in para-powerlifting.

The Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games will conclude on September 8.