The New Zealand Paralympic Team are all set to give Kiwis ‘Something to Talk About’ at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with the flame set to ignite at the glittering Opening Ceremony on Thursday 29 August from 6am NZT.
Flagbearers Paralympian #164 Cameron Leslie MNZM and Paralympian #195 Anna Grimaldi MNZM will proudly lead the Team at the Opening Ceremony of the 17th summer Paralympic Games which takes place at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées in the heart of the French capital. The Opening Ceremony is set to be screened live on TVNZ 1.
Boasting a Team of 24 Para athletes – plus 41 support staff – competing across eight sports, two more than at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, expectation is high for a prominent showing as around 4400 athletes compete across 11 days of exhilarating competition (Thursday 29 August – September 9 Monday NZT)
Featuring a blend of youth and experience, the NZ Paralympic Team comprises 11 Para athletes making their Paralympic Games debut and 14 Paralympians, who have competed at past Paralympic Games.
Among them is Paralympian #148 Michael Johnson MNZM (Shooting Para sport), who is making a record-equalling sixth Paralympic Games appearance for New Zealand to match the feat of Paralympian #4 Graham Condon QSM (who competed between 1968-1988).
The excitement has been mounting as NZ Paralympic Team members have been arriving in the main Paralympic Village and the satellite Paralympic Village at Châteauroux since Wednesday 21 August with the remaining Team members welcomed into the Village in the coming days.
Each Team member on arrival in the Paralympic Village is welcomed with a pounamu and waiata in a moving ceremony supported by the NZ Paralympic Team Pou Tuarā Tikanga and Cultural Lead Kelly James.
The NZ Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Raylene Bates, who has described the welcoming ceremonies for Team members as “emotional”, said: “The New Zealand Paralympic Team is raring to go, and we all are excited for the competition ahead. The athletes have been training hard for the past three years to perform at their best for this pinnacle event and our goal is to provide the best possible team environment to allow them to achieve their goals.
“It is always hard to make too many predictions in elite sport, but we cannot ask much more of athletes than to achieve a PB or make a final – to win any medal is just the icing on the cake. We are looking forward to the Kiwi athletes giving people ‘Something to Talk About’ in the French capital.”
The team of 11 women and 13 men features 62-year-old Shooting Para sport athlete Paralympian #204 Greg Reid, who becomes the oldest ever New Zealand Paralympian surpassing Paralympian #171 Jan Apel, who was aged 61 when she competed in Para sailing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Reid, who lives in Featherston in the Wairarapa, and who works full-time as a mass metrologist – in which his primary role is ensuring the kilogram weight is consistent with international units – made his Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and is elated to be back competing at a second Paralympic Games.
“I’m both humbled and proud to represent Aotearoa on such an enormous stage,” adds Greg, who competes in the both the R3 Mixed Air Rifle Probe SH1 and R6 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 events.
“My final preparations have gone well and I’m looking forward to competing and showing what I am capable of.
“It does get a little harder competing at the top level as I get older, but that is all the more reason to step up and give it everything. For me to have a second bite at the Paralympic Games is very special.”
At the other end of the age spectrum, Para athlete Gabriella ‘Gaby’ Smith is the youngest member of the NZ Paralympic Team at Paris 2024 with the 18-year-old Christchurch-based Para swimmer relishing the opportunity to represent her country on the biggest stage.
“I am incredibly excited for the Paralympic Games, the Olympians had their turn in Paris and it looked spectacular, and I can’t wait,” says Gaby, who competes in three events at Paris 2024 – the Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB9, the Women’s 400m Freestyle S10 and the Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10.
“Competing at a Paralympic Games is reward for those who have supported me over the years and for all those hours I’ve spent in the pool and the gym. I’m not just swimming for myself but everyone that has shown faith in me throughout my career.”
TVNZ will broadcast the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in New Zealand. Paris 2024 will see the most extensive coverage for a Paralympic Games in New Zealand to date. This will include coverage on TVNZ 1 from 7.30pm, five dedicated TVNZ+ pop-up channels covering live and delayed content, plus replays and highlights.
Two Kiwi athletes compete on day one of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with Para cyclist Nicole Murray in qualification action in the Women’s C4-5 500m Time Trial from 22:00 (NZT) on Thursday (29 August). The final follows at 01:45 (NZT) on Friday (30 August).
Para athlete Wojtek Czyz takes on Daniel Bethell of Great Britain in his opening Group B match in the Para badminton Men’s Singles SL3, which takes place not before 22:30 (NZT) on Thursday (29 September).
For more information of when to watch the Kiwis at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and other Paris 2024 Paralympic Games related information go here
