Martial arts icon Jackie Chan has been announced as one of the torchbearers for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. The 70-year-old actor, renowned for his dynamic stunts and acrobatic fight scenes, will carry the Paralympic flame in the French capital on Wednesday afternoon, just hours before the opening ceremony. Chan, who was born in Hong Kong, will be among hundreds of torchbearers as the flame travels through 50 cities across France leading up to the Games, which will take place from August 28 to September 8.
Joining Chan in the torch relay are French actress Elsa Zylberstein and dancer/choreographer Benjamin Millepied, who will also take part in this significant prelude to the Games. The torch relay and opening ceremony will go beyond the confines of the Stade de France, as a parade is planned down the Champs-Elysées, culminating at Place de la Concorde in central Paris.
The Paralympic flame began its journey on Saturday in Stoke Mandeville, UK, the historic birthplace of the Paralympic movement. It arrived in France via the Channel Tunnel on Sunday, carried by wheelchair fencing medalist Emmanuelle Assmann. The flame’s arrival was met with enthusiasm by French sports minister Amelie Oudéa-Castéra and Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee. Oudéa-Castéra emphasized the importance of integrating sports into the lives of people with disabilities, a sentiment that underscores the spirit of the Games.
In the days leading up to the opening ceremony, the flame will be divided into 12 smaller flames, which will be carried by 1,000 torchbearers in simultaneous relays across 50 towns. These relays will converge in Paris, where the final flame will arrive on Wednesday, marking the official start of the Paralympics. This event not only symbolizes the unity and resilience of the Paralympic movement but also sets the stage for a celebration of athletic excellence and inclusivity.
