Summer Paralympic Games begin in Paris

Tengrinews.kz - The XVII Summer Paralympic Games were officially opened in Paris.

The grand opening ceremony took place at the Place de la Concorde in France, where the national flag was carried by Berik Izmaganbetov (sitting volleyball) and Sevda Aliyeva (shooting).

Kazakhstan’s delegation was supported by Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev, who was sent by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Although Paris has hosted the Olympic Games three times, this is the first time the Paralympic Games are being held in the French capital.

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This year's event features over 4,400 athletes, accompanied by 2,500 team members.

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The competition includes 22 sports across 549 disciplines, with events spanning 11 days. While no new sports were added this year, para-badminton, which debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, is once again part of the program.

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Kazakhstan is represented by a record delegation of 44 athletes, 18 more than the 26 who participated in Tokyo in 2020. This year, Kazakh athletes will compete in nine sports: para-judo, para-powerlifting, para-taekwondo, para-athletics, para-shooting, para-table tennis, para-swimming, para-canoe, and sitting volleyball.

For the first time, Kazakhstan has qualified for competitions in para-table tennis and, among women, in para-canoe.

The first competitions involving the Kazakh national team will begin tomorrow. In the morning, Milana Krasavtseva will compete in para-taekwondo, and in the evening, the Kazakh sitting volleyball team will play its first match against France.

At the previous Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Kazakhstan won one gold, three silver, and one bronze medal.

Kazakh athletes were given a warm send-off before heading to the Paralympic Games.