The opening ceremony for the 2024 Paralympic Games on Wednesday night will be remembered for idyllic weather, dazzling dancing, pyrotechnics and for shining a global spotlight on adaptive clothing. For the event, organizers transformed Place de la Concorde into a temporary stadium, with the centerpiece being a vast scene choreographed by Alexander Ekman and , continuing the trend of giving independent designers a spotlight at the global event. As the sun began to set, dusting the perspective of the Champs-Élysées with golden light, Canadian musician and songwriter Chilly Gonzales was the first to take to the stage, wearing a billowing cape over a white fluid trouser set.
Around him swirled dancers, most in formal black suits with crisp white shirts. Some wore feather-decked looks and crystal-embellished athleisure. “Welcome to Paris,” hollered para-swimming champion Théo Curin before the crowd of spectators, estimated at 50,000, answered with a roaring cheer as smoke bombs in France’s blue, white and red went up around the obelisk on Place de la Concorde, at the center of a 48,000-square-foot stage erected for the occasion.
Gold, silver and bronze flags heralded the arrival of the traditional procession of national delegations as the Patrouille de France streaked the host country’s colors across a rose-gold sky. Thomas Jolly, who is the artistic director of 2024, and styling and costumes director Daphné Bürki called on Nouchi for the event’s 700-plus costu.