In 50 days, Paris and France will create history by hosting their first ever summer Paralympic Games. Alexandre Ekman has been selected to direct the staging and choreography of the Opening Ceremony that will take place outside a stadium for the first time.

The Opening Ceremony on 28 August will feature thousands of athletes parading in the Avenue des Champs-Elysées to the Place de la Concorde, where they will be joined by hundreds of artists. 

Inspired by the extraordinary scale of the 4,500m² Place de la Concorde stage, Ekman has chosen to place dance at the heart of the show. More than 150 dancers, including many professional dancers with disabilities, will bring to life the Opening Ceremony with inventive, musical, and humorous choreography. 

Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, said: "With Alexander Ekman, the fantastic ceremonies team around Thomas Jolly is complete! Today, we are delighted to announce this collaboration with Alexander, who will bring all his talent and knowledge of Paris to the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We wanted this ceremony to be innovative, spectacular and truly magical, in keeping with this historic event: the first summer Paralympic Games in France. 

“For the first time, it won't be taking place in a stadium, but in the heart of the city, between the bottom of the most beautiful avenue in the world - the Champs-Elysées - and the majestic Place de la Concorde. With Alexander Ekman and the whole team, Paris will enter the Paralympic Games in the best possible way, for eleven days of competition, celebration and emotion. We can't wait!"

Dance at the centre

For the past two years, Ekman has been working with Victor le Masne, Composer and Music Director of the Ceremonies, and Daphné Bürki, Director of Styling and Costumes for the Ceremonies to create this exceptional show. An artist of great curiosity, Alexander spent a long time with Paralympic athletes in his preliminary research work. Inspired by the athletes' sporting endeavours, this show highlights the place of sport, and in particular the Paralympic Games, as a solution for creating a more inclusive society. 

Ekman said: "Our goal is to create a Paralympic ceremony that is a celebration with a mix of important messages, featuring the art of choreographic dance and the music newly composed by Victor Le Masne and inspired by sport. It is a real honour to be part of the Paris 2024 artistic team! I can't wait to share with the world the work that my team and I have created." 

Thomas Jolly, Director of Ceremonies for Paris 2024, said: “To both celebrate the Paralympic athletes and act as spokesperson for them, I wanted this ceremony to be both festive and political. That's why I asked choreographer Alexander Ekman, known for his spectacular universe that transcends the limits of the body, to take charge of the staging and choreography of this show. Together we aim to transcend limits and make them coincide with a more equal and inclusive world.” 

Thomas Jolly's artistic team for the ceremonies includes Victor le Masne, Musical Director for the ceremonies, Maud Le Pladec, Director of Dance for the ceremonies and choreographer of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, and Daphné Bürki, Director of Styling and Costumes for the Paris 2024 ceremonies. 

Ekman will enchant the French public and Paralympic fans around the world, after receiving acclaim for directing “PLAY” at the Palais Garnier in 2017, with the Paris Opera Ballet. A public success, the ballet was back in 2021 and will return at the end of 2024. The joyful energy, excess and freedom expressed in Ekman's dance appealed to Paris 2024 and Thomas Jolly saw him as the ideal candidate for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games. 

50 days to go

From the morning after the Opening Ceremony, and until 8 September, 4,400 athletes will compete for medals in 549 events across 22 sports. 

The action will take place at 20 exceptional venues, which will offer a glorious setting to showcase the performances of the Para athletes. Wheelchair tennis tournaments will take place at Roland Garros, blind football at the Eiffel Tower Stadium, wheelchair basketball at the Bercy Arena, Para archery at the Invalides to name a few.  

Affordable ticket prices are at the heart of the Paralympic Games. More than 500,000 tickets are available at EUR 25 or less, while tickets are still on sale at EUR 15. Family offers and discovery passes allow families and friends to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime party in the centre of Paris. 
Tickets for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are available at tickets.paris2024.org

And for the first time in their history, the Paralympic Games also offer a hospitality programme. From the evening of the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games on 28 August, spectators will be able to enjoy an exclusive outdoor hospitality experience in the Jardin des Tuileries before following the parade of athletes in the stands and getting as close as possible to action of the Opening Ceremony. 

For competitions, two types of hospitality packages (with event tickets included) are offered to cater for all desires and budgets: a "Lounge" package with guaranteed spaces at the heart of the sporting action, and a "Fan Kit" package. These offers will allow fans to be immersed in the passion and emotion of the exploits of Paralympic athletes.

For more information, please visit https://paralympichospitality.paris2024.org