Over 2m tickets sold: Paris 2024 Paralympics on course to make history

Paris 2024 has announced that over two million tickets have been sold for the Paralympic Games, just ahead of the opening ceremony, with organisers confident it will be a sold-out event. In a statement, organisers highlighted that one million tickets had been sold within the last month.

Approximately 500,000 tickets remain available, which, if sold, would bring the total close to the 2.7 million sold for London 2012, where 97% of tickets were purchased. By comparison, 1.82 million tickets were sold for Beijing 2008, with an additional 1.62 million distributed to schools. The Rio 2016 Paralympics sold 2.1 million tickets.

Despite the remaining tickets, Paris 2024 is optimistic about achieving a full sell-out, a potential first for the Paralympic Games.

Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, expressed confidence, noting that ticket sales could continue until the end of the event, as was the case with the Olympics, where tickets were sold up until the final day.

Craig Spence, spokesperson for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), stated that sales will likely exceed the Rio 2016 figures.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games opening ceremony commenced under ideal conditions, with approximately 4,400 athletes parading from the Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde. For the first time in Paris, the ceremony is being held outside of a stadium, following the example set by the Olympic Games.

The main event is taking place at Place de la Concorde on a pleasant summer evening, after a parade that started at the Arc de Triomphe.

Organisers expect around 65,000 attendees, with the public able to view the parade for free before the ticketed ceremony. France is hosting the summer Paralympic Games for the first time, with 184 delegations participating across 22 sports, competing for 549 gold medals over the next 11 days.