PARIS (TVBS News) — The Paralympics started with a grand opening ceremony on Wednesday (Aug. 28), during which Taiwan's delegation made a notable entrance. Javelin thrower Liu Ya-ting (劉雅婷) and table tennis rising star Chen Po-yen (陳柏諺) served as flag bearers, making Taiwan the 150th country to enter the event.
Liu and Chen carried the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (中華奧會) flag, receiving enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, marking the official start of the Paralympics, a significant moment for Taiwan's athletes and supporters.
Taiwan's team secured thirteen spots across seven sports, including Taekwondo athlete Hsiao Hsiang-wen (蕭翔文), who clinched gold at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games (杭州亞帕運) last year. On the first day, Hsiao will compete in the men's K44 58kg category, aiming to win Taiwan's first medal at the Paralympics.
Artistic director Thomas Jolly orchestrated the opening ceremony, which saw delegations depart from the Arc de Triomphe, traverse the Champs-Élysées, and conclude at the Place de la Concorde with a series of performances.
