Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Open with Ceremony

The 2024 Summer Paralympics opened in Paris on August 28, featuring a vibrant ceremony with athletes from a record 167 nations, including a large delegation from Japan aiming to surpass their previous medal count. The event, which will run until September 8, includes over 4,400 athletes competing in 22 sports and 549 events. China leads the largest contingent with 282 athletes, showcasing their dominance in the Paralympic Games, while Brazil follows with 255 athletes. In a separate sporting event, the Chinese table tennis team excelled at the Paris Olympics, but the women's singles final sparked controversy as defending champion Chen Meng faced hostility from fans favoring her rival, Sun Yingsha. This incident highlighted the intense dynamics within the table tennis community, reflecting broader social sentiments in China. The Paralympics are also anticipated to be highly competitive, with countries like India aiming for a significant medal haul following their previous successes.