Paralympics begins in Paris
143 Germany para athletes are in Paris to compete for medals.
Paris (dpa) – At the 2024 Paralympics that will begin with a major opening ceremony in Paris today, team Germany has hopes of winning medals in 18 of the 22 disciplines. Only in goalball, blind football, taekwondo and powerlifting does Germany lack starting participants. “Our team is bigger than at the Paralympics in Tokyo three years ago, meaning we have halted the downward trend with respect to the team size. And that despite the fact that qualifying for the team sport disciplines has become more difficult as a result of the smaller starting fields,” says Karl Quade in his capacity as Chef de Mission.
Following the games in Tokyo and Beijing, which were significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the podiums will finally be full again - even at the opening ceremony, which is expected to attract 35,000 spectators at the central Place de la Concorde and another 15,000 visitors close by, but also at the Stade de France and Bercy Arena.