The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will kick off with an opening ceremony on Wednesday in the heart of the French capital, according to Anadolu Agency (AA). The ceremony will take place at Paris’ historic Place de la Concorde and the iconic Champs-Elysees Avenue, where 4,400 Paralympic athletes from 184 delegations will parade.

The parade will travel between the Champs-Elysees, lined with cafes and luxury shops, and the Arc de Triomphe. The event is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT).

Following the opening ceremony, the competitions will commence on Thursday, with the Games running through September 8. Events will be held across Paris and its suburbs.

The 2024 Paralympics will feature 22 sports and 23 disciplines, including blind football, boccia, goalball, Para archery, Para athletics, Para badminton, Para canoe, Para cycling (road and track), Para equestrian, Para judo, Para powerlifting, Para rowing, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, Para triathlon, shooting Para sport, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis.

Competitions will take place at 18 venues, including Stade de France, Stade Roland-Garros, the Eiffel Tower Stadium, Pont Alexandre III, and Grand Palais.

This will be the first time Paris and France host the Paralympic Summer Games. The city previously hosted the Summer Olympics in July and August, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been held in the same city and venues since 1988.