Paris 2024 Messages from the CEO

Day 1

 Kia or koutou and bonjour from Paris. After an incredible opening ceremony yesterday, competition got underway at the Velodrome with Paralympian #222 Nicole Murray, our first member of the New Zealand Paralympic Team on the track and competing at Paris 2024.

Nicole had a fantastic qualification ride setting a new personal best and New Zealand record, and then went on to finish in fifth place in the final in one of the events that is a great warm-up for some of her more preferred events later in the competition.

The national velodrome is out towards Versailles. It’s a really amazing venue and being able to be part of the crowd and seeing the amazing sports presentation that has been put in place with incredible visual graphics and laser shows that are part of the pre-show for the Para cycling. They also have a DJ that is elevated on a scissor lift, right above the pits for the cycling getting all the athletes warmed up before the competition action gets underway. There was a good contingent of family and friends joining Nicole’s family to be able to support her and cheer her on in the first of our competitions.

Already on show, the volunteers at Paris 2024 are proving that they are incredibly enthusiastic, helpful, and very much big fans and supporters of the NZ brand and our NZ Para athletes. Hopefully that continues for the rest of the Games.

Para athlete Wojtek Czyz was our second athlete in action today in his first pool game for the Para badminton competition. Wojtek came up against the World No. 1 in what was a challenging contest for him, but he had a very famous personal friend in the crowd – famous football manager Jurgen Klopp who was in the crowd supporting him and cheering him on. If you haven’t already, try and check out and see if you can find the social media clip of both Wojtek and Jurgen sporting the Paris 2024 mascot hats, it’s quite a laugh.

Many of you will have read the disappointing, sad news that Para athlete Ben Westenberg is unfortunately unable to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games after sustaining some injuries in a crash as part of the training camp leading into the Games. Ben has the support from all members of the NZ Paralympic Team, and his family and friends are also in Paris providing additional support. We are working with everybody to make sure he’s got the ability to travel home safely. We are looking forward to seeing what Ben can do in the future. He’s a fantastic role model, fantastic athlete and somebody we’ll definitely be looking out for when he gets back on the track with an eye on LA2028.

One of the interesting challenges of navigating a city like Paris is trying to get around in transport. It’s been fantastic so far, the experience using a special TX or Games Taxi Service which is fully fitted out with amazing Toyota vehicles running people all over the city. So far, I have been able to take a journey in about five different kinds of Toyota vehicles. All of them are electric vehicles or hybrids, making sure the Toyota brand is contributing to a more sustainable Paralympic Games. 

After a reasonably quiet Day 1 with two members of the NZ Paralympic Team in action, Day 2 gets underway with more Para badminton action, more Para cycling on the track, and the Para swimmers diving into the pool for the first time at Paris 2024. Watch out for some great performances again, keep watching on TVNZ1 and TVNZ+ and if you’re not already talking about this, then make sure you are sharing the stories from across our social channels and across our partners. Thanks everyone for the continued support, look forward to reporting back for Day 2.