PARIS – All six national para athletes and four coaches will be dressed to the nines on Wednesday night as they take part in the what promises to be a spectacular outdoor opening ceremony of the 17th Paris Paralympic Games at the Place dela Concorde to Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. But once para swimmer Ernie Gawilan and para archer Agustina Bantiloc and teammates Jerrold Mangliwan, Cendy Asusano, Angel Mae Otom and Allain Ganapin have finished taking part in the festive rites in their ethnic-inspired uniforms, their focus will be back to the task at hand. Joining them in the Paralympic Games opening-night festivities for the first time are coaches Gershon Bautista, Jonathan Josol, Berson Buen, and Brian Ong of taekwondo, archery, track and field and swimming, respectively, in the trip supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“To ensure that the spotlight is firmly on the achievements of the Paralympic athletes, the values that they embody and the emotions that they inspire in us, Paris 2024 wanted to offer them a groundbreaking showcase by organizing the first Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony outside the confines of a stadium,” Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said in a statement. “Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées, the world’s most beautiful avenue, will be transformed into an outstanding stage to showcase the Paralympic movement in a breathtaking setting,” Estanguet stressed of the occasion that is expected to draw at least 500,000 .