Paris 2024 setting new benchmarks on and off the field of play

Coming into the Paris 2024 Paralympics, the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, was predicting these would be the most spectacular Games ever. 

“At the half-way point, there is little doubt these will go down in history as the Games that set new benchmarks for the Paralympics in so many ways,” Parsons said. 

With 2.3 million tickets sold, the Games are second only to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which sold 2.7 million tickets.  But Parsons said it’s not the numbers alone but the enthusiasm of the crowds that has made Paris 2024 historic. 

“The new ingredient here is the French people. The energy in the venues is just electrifying. All the athletes are talking about that buzz. They are so happy and as a result the sport has been taken to a whole new level, it’s incredible to witness this special moment for the Paralympic Movement,” Parsons said. 

Before the Paralympic Games began Parsons knew Paris would go down in the record books for the most media (2,000 journalists on site), record number of broadcasters (more than 225 media Rights Holders) and competing nations. 

But he said the way Paris 2024 designed the Games from the outset has made these Games truly stand out from others in the past. 

“We have all the venues in Paris very close to iconic landmarks at the heart of the city.  This brings the Paralympic Games closer to the people.  I think we saw this at the Opening Ceremony at the Place de la Concorde when we were saying that the city of Paris was embracing or hugging the Paralympic Movement.” 

Paris 2024 has released data which shows that more than 90 per cent of ticket buyers are from France and half of them have never seen Paralympic sport before. 

But Parsons said he saw something surprising at a blind football match he attended, being played right beside the Eiffel Tower, where spectators must remain quiet at key moments so the players can hear the ball. 

“It was noisy, when it had to be noisy, but then to see the fans do a silent Mexican wave was just incredible because they understand the context. They understand what is happening on the field of play, and this means that they get Paralympic sport as if they have been watching it for years.” 

Parsons said he believes the Games will leave a lasting legacy for fans who have witnessed them. 

That is what he was calling for at the Opening Ceremony at the Place de La Concorde, a place famous for its role in the French Revolution, where Parsons called for an inclusion revolution. 

“We know the Paralympic Games are an exciting sports event, but at the same time, we want the Games to drive change in the world, to drive this inclusion revolution. With a record number of media and broadcasters, Paris 2024 will have a very positive impact at the global level to do just that.” 

After Parsons’ speech at the Ceremony, his name has been among the top Google searches when it comes to the Paralympics. 

“It’s an honour to serve these athletes.  It’s the biggest honour of my life.  If that makes people interested in in what I do and what I have to say, it’s great especially if it means I’m helping to spread the word about our Movement.”