Paralympic Games begin in Paris

The Summer Paralympic Games get underway in Paris today. Over 4,000 athletes from all around the world will meet in the French capital to compete in 22 sports across 549 different events. For its first time hosting the Summer Paralympics, the city has got something special in store for the Opening Ceremony. Delegations from 184 nations will parade down the iconic Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde, rather than entering a stadium. The first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960. Twenty-three nations took part, competing in eight sports, including wheelchair basketball and Para athletics.
Today's image takes us to an icon of Parisian life: the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in the Montmartre neighborhood. The church, which was completed in 1914, stands at the top of one of the highest points in Paris. It offers impressive views over the city, taking in the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Panthéon and much more. If you're in Paris to enjoy the Paralympics, it's the perfect spot to soak up the beauty of the host city.
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