The Games are on again!

The Paralympics Opening Ceremony was held on the Place de la Concorde. While the athletes marched in, a group of life-sized Phryges played games (think catch and red light, green light) at the center of the square. We only saw that later in phone videos made by spectators, as the TV cameras were focused on the athletes.

If we could love our Phryges any more than we already did, we would!

Finally, the day I’ve waited for since October is here: our Paraswimming session is on. Like most Games sites, the pool is temporary, the Paris La Défense Arena usually holds concerts and rugby matches. The three pools set up for the Games are already marked to go somewhere else. I think one of them will be reassembled in Toulouse later.

My choice of session proves lucky: We have a race with two French brothers, and another with Brazilian star Gabrielzinho. The warm-up doesn’t look so different from warm-ups at my own swim meets.

The three “coups de baton” open the session. We have a really good view of the pool. It’s all finals, and medal ceremonies are held in between races. One of the details you don’t see on TV: we see a camera man with a camera on his shoulder who keeps having to run the length of the 50m pool to film the swimmers as they arrive to the medal ceremonies held at the other end. At one point he sits down and massages his shoulder.

When the French Portal brothers arrive for their 400m freestyle race, the audience goes nuts. 400m is a mid-distance event, but it’s the longest race of this session. The atmosphere is incredible; we shout ourselves hoarse. Successfully, as Alex and Kylian win the silver and bronze medals. During their medal ceremony, the noise level reaches a new height.

Gabrielzinho totally steals the show at his race, where he wins gold.

Being in the room where it happens is such an incredible experience!