With just 100 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Paris, the excitement is building.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has received a boost from none other than Paul McCartney, who has allowed his song “We All Stand Together” to be used in a promotional film for the event.
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The tune, which was the signature song from an award-winning animated film McCartney wrote and produced 40 years ago, perfectly captures the spirit of the Paralympic movement.
IPC president Andrew Parsons expressed his gratitude to the former Beatle, saying, “Sir Paul really understands what we stand for as a movement and he was so generous to us. He was not difficult to convince, it was something that came very naturally.”
The Summer Paralympics opening ceremony on August 28 will take place along the iconic Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde. Over the following 11 days, 4,400 athletes will compete in various venues, including ones beneath the Eiffel Tower and at Versailles Palace, with up to 2.7 million spectators expected to attend.
Parsons emphasized the significance of the London 2012 Paralympics as a turning point for the movement, with huge ticket sales and a revolutionary approach to broadcasting by Britain’s Channel 4. Many broadcasters worldwide now look to Channel 4 for inspiration when preparing for the Paralympics.
The Paris Paralympics will have a record 164 broadcasters covering 549 events across 22 sports. Beyond the field of play, the Paralympics aims to change society, especially in the host nation. Parsons acknowledged that there is still work to be done in France when it comes to the perception of persons with disabilities, but he believes the games will help remind global leaders of the 1.2 billion people with disabilities who need to be included in important conversations.
Two weeks after the Paralympics conclude, the United Nations will host the Summit of the Future, where progress towards the 17 sustainable development goals will be measured.
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Parsons hopes that this event will help drive change and ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the global human rights movement.
As the countdown to the Paris Paralympics continues, the IPC and its partners are working hard to create an unforgettable event that celebrates the strength, resilience, and diversity of athletes with disabilities from around the world.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.