Battle for medals follows exuberant opening ceremony

The fight for medals began yesterday at the Paris Paralympics, which opened in a colorful and hope-filled ceremony ahead of 11 days of competition.

Medals were up for grabs in track cycling, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo on Day One while the action also began in sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, badminton, archery, and goalball - a form of football for the visually impaired - and boccia, a version of bowls.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open during a ceremony in a balmy Place de la Concorde in central Paris - the first time a Paralympic opening ceremony has taken place away from the main stadium.

The 4,400 competitors from 168 delegations joined the parade.

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons told the athletes and spectators he hoped for an "inclusion revolution" before Macron officially declared the Games open.

The Paralympic flag was carried into the square by British sprinter John McFall.

French Olympian Florent Manaudou brought the flame in before five French Paralympians, including 2020 gold medalists Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keita, lit the iconic cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens.

Of the 35 Olympic venues, 18 are being used for the Paralympics.

Ticket sales had been sluggish but accelerated since the Olympics, and organizers say more than two million of the 2.5 million available have been sold.

China dominated the last Paralympics in Tokyo with 96 golds and have sent a strong delegation. Ukraine, one of the top medal-winning nations at the Paralympics, have sent 140 athletes to compete in 17 sports.

American above-the-knee amputee sprinter/high jumper Ezra Frech, who is 19, has been tipped as a potential new star.

Iranian sitting volleyball legend Morteza Mehrzad will attempt to take gold again.

Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio, the Italian fencer who had all four limbs amputated at the age of 11, is aiming for a third gold.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE