After an unforgettable journey through the Scottish Highlands, we were back on a plane returning to Paris! Having had such an amazing time at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we couldn’t resist coming back for more excitement - especially as spectators! The Paralympic Games, which always immediately follow the Olympic Games, are often overlooked but they offer an equally incredible showcase of athleticism - plus, the ticket prices make it a easier on the wallet too. We were also excited to visit more of the iconic venues throughout Paris that we missed during our quick Olympics trip. After returning to Frankfurt, we had mentioned our Paralympic plans to colleagues during our farewells, and before we knew it, we were a group of 6 experiencing Paris together just a few short weeks later! Once the seed was planted, more and more people got on board - it turned out, no one had any plans since we were all finished working, so why not?!
Paris is always Paris, and finding accommodation for just a few nights proved to be tricky for the 6 of us. We managed to book a couple of Airbnbs for our little work reunion of “Luke and the Ladies,” but, as is often the case, the listing was a bit ‘generous’ with its description. It quickly became clear that we were staying in a less-than-ideal suburb. The area, called Barbès-Rochechouart, wasn’t the worst we’d seen, but it certainly wasn’t the charming Parisian neighborhood we had imagined. We made the most of it though, and heeded the warnings of the neighbourhood police regularly patrolling our local metro station to be extra alert.
First up on our Paralympics agenda was the intense sport of wheelchair rugby, also known as “murder ball” for its fierce, full-contact play. The game is a fast-paced mix of rugby, basketball, and demolition derby, where players in specially designed wheelchairs battle it out on the court to score points (or a “try”) just like rugby. This event took place at the Champ de Mars Arena, normally an outdoor plaza which had been temporarily converted into an indoor arena, complete with the existing plaza statues. We had the privilege of watching Australia defeat England for the bronze medal - it was an awesome match! It's not often that a Kiwi supports the Aussies, especially when watching it next to British friend, but this medal was well earned.
Our next event was Blind Football (soccer), which was truly a jaw-dropping experience. In blind football, all players are visually impaired and rely on their other senses to track the ball, which has a noise-making device inside to help with spatial awareness. Only the goalkeeper is fully sighted. The game is played with incredible precision, as players navigate the pitch through sound, communication with their guide behind the goal, and sheer instinct. The venue had been transformed from Beach Volleyball to Blind Football in a short space of time, and was located right under the Eiffel Tower, making for an absolutely stunning backdrop.
One of the most unique aspects of blind football is that the crowd must remain completely silent so the players can hear the ball’s movement. At one point, we even participated in a silent wave (also known as a Mexican wave), which was such a surreal and memorable moment. We watched two matches, and witnessing a goal in each one was truly tear-jerking. There’s something deeply inspiring about seeing athletes, who face unique challenges, performing on the global stage and delivering such a powerful display of skill and determination.
What also stood out was how accessible the event was. Sitting next to us was a blind spectator with a tactile board on his lap, which allowed him to feel where the ball was on the field. His father also explained the action, and it was incredible to witness how everyone could engage with this game, regardless of their abilities.
Next, we headed to the Stade de France to watch the Para-Athletics, and this event was particularly thrilling. The stadium has a massive capacity of 80,000, creating an electrifying atmosphere on the iconic purple track as we settled in for an afternoon filled with excitement and records broken. The para-athletics showcased a variety of track and field events, including para running, long jump, high jump, and javelin, each featuring athletes with different disabilities.
While the categorisation of disabilities is somewhat complex and challenging to follow at times, these performances were nothing short of awe-inspiring. It was incredible to witness athletes with varying abilities - some competing with only one leg (and still clearing the high jump!!) and other adaptations - perform extraordinary feats of strength and agility. One standout moment was when Kiwi Anna Grimaldi won the bronze medal in the T47 100m final. It filled us with pride to see the New Zealand flag raised, and the level of support for Anna by her family on the finish line as she was presented her medal.
Amidst all the sporting excitement, we also managed to squeeze in some sightseeing with our friends. We visited iconic landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Cauldron rising at night, ‘Club France’, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower. It was refreshing to explore these sites without the overwhelming crowds we experienced during the Olympics, making our visits much more enjoyable.
The final sporting event we attended was Wheelchair Tennis, which effectively follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis, with 2 key differences: the players are in wheelchairs and the ball is allowed to bounce twice before the player must return it. This adaptation makes the game accessible with the added challenges faced maneuvering a wheelchair while playing tennis, while maintaining its competitive spirit. It was exciting to be in the clay court venue of Roland Garros, renowned for hosting the French Open. It was especially cool to see the names of the tennis legends who had conquered at past French Opens carved into the stadium and immortalised in statues throughout the complex - it was hard to believe there were 20 courts here! The atmosphere was electric as we watched three matches—first, the men's singles quarter finals with crowd favourite Argentinian Fernandez defeating the English athlete Reid, followed by a sold out crowd to watch the local French Houdet put up a valiant battle against Spain's de la Puente (who eventually came away with the bronze). We also watched the followed by an exciting quad doubles gold medal match that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
A cool feature at the Paralympics venues was the popular 'have-a-go' sections, where spectators could try out the Para sports for themselves. These were especially popular with the school groups, and the line was simply too long for us try it out!
It was also funny to hear the French partake in never ending Karaoke songs of various French songs that we had never heard of. We'd never seen Parisians so enthusiastic and joyous. A personal favourite of ours was Les Champs-Elysées which was particularly catchy and easy to sing along to.
Before leaving Paris, we simply had to witness the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle, especially as Jelley had never seen it by night. We all hopped on a boat bar for drinks along the Seine River, soaking in the views before sunset and reminiscing on our action-packed time together in Paris. Afterward, we wandered along the river to a fantastic vantage point to watch the tower light up and glow against the Parisian skyline. It was a stunning conclusion to our time in this beautiful city.
As we bid a final farewell to our wonderful colleagues and friends, we took an extremely early uber to the airport and set off on our next adventure: headed East. Our first stop? The vibrant city of Krakow, Poland.
Until then,
- A Kiwi and A Cali
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