Paris, August 25, 2024 – Iconic martial arts actor Jackie Chan will add another remarkable feat to his illustrious career as he is named one of the torchbearers for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
The 70-year-old Hong Kong-born star, celebrated for his high-flying stunts and acrobatic fight sequences, will carry the Paralympic flame on Wednesday afternoon, just hours before the opening ceremony, according to the organizing committee’s announcement.
Chan, whose career spans over five decades and includes a series of groundbreaking martial arts films, will join French actress Elsa Zylberstein and dancer/choreographer Benjamin Millepied in the highly anticipated torch relay.
Their participation is set to highlight the global celebration of the Paralympic spirit and the games’ theme of inclusivity.
The relay, akin to the Olympic torch relay, will be a spectacular prelude to the opening ceremony. Unlike the traditional Olympic event held within the confines of the Stade de France, the Paralympic torch relay will take the form of a grand parade.
The route will traverse the famous Champs-Elysees and culminate at the Place de la Concorde, marking a celebratory journey through the heart of Paris.
The flame, which was ignited on Saturday in Stoke Mandeville, UK—the historic birthplace of the Paralympic Games—made its way to France via the Channel Tunnel on Sunday.
The flame’s journey into France was carried out by Emmanuelle Assmann, a former wheelchair fencing medalist, who emerged from the Channel Tunnel with the symbolic torch, marking the flame’s entry into French soil.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, who was present to welcome the flame alongside Tony Estanguet, head of the organizing committee, emphasized the significance of the event.
“It’s all about inscribing sport in the hearts of people with disabilities,” said Oudea-Castera, highlighting the event’s role in celebrating and integrating the spirit of sportsmanship and resilience.
The flame’s journey is set to continue as it will be “multiplied” into 12 Paralympic flames, which will be carried by 1,000 torchbearers across around 50 towns in 12 simultaneous relays.
This broad, inclusive approach is designed to bring the Paralympic spirit to communities across France before the grand convergence in Paris.
On Wednesday, as the torch reaches the final leg of its journey, Paris will witness a vibrant and symbolic opening ceremony that promises to be a fitting tribute to the athletes and the enduring spirit of the Paralympic Games.
