The Paralympics: What to expect as 4,400 athletes compete in Paris
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
đ
NewsTranscript
00:00With just hours to go before the start of the Paralympic Games, excitement is building
00:05in the French capital. Many event venues have been revamped, the athletes are here and so
00:11are the tourists.
00:12It's amazing to finally be in Paris. We've looked forward to this so long. I've never
00:16been here. I can't actually believe I'm here. It's very exciting. There's a really cool
00:21atmosphere.
00:22I've been here since the beginning of the Olympics. Now I'm going to enjoy the Paralympics
00:27as well. I'm buying tickets right now.
00:30Organisers are hoping to capitalise on the success of the Olympics, even if the Paralympics
00:36come at a time of tense negotiations for the formation of a new French government and at
00:41the start of the school year.
00:44With regards to the start of the new school year, we think it's also a good opportunity
00:48to spread the message to the younger generation. We know the way disability and inclusion are
00:54viewed depends on this new generation.
00:58They say it's a chance for Parisians who were on holiday during the Olympics to catch some
01:03of the action.
01:04I'm absolutely sure Parisians who have missed the Olympics, they will join the party and
01:09even those who attended the Olympics, they want a little bit more of that. La fĂȘte continue.
01:14I like that expression.
01:16Organisers say about two million tickets have been sold for the various events. That would
01:21mean the second highest total number of spectators at a Paralympics, behind London in 2012.
01:28Roughly 500,000 tickets are still available, notably for boccia, para-powerlifting and
01:35para-athletics.