Fabien Lamirault Sets the Paris 2024 Cauldron Ablaze at Spectacular Opening Ceremony
Written by I Dig SportsFour time Para table tennis gold medalist and the most successful French athlete of the Paris 2024 delegation, Fabien Lamirault stepped into the spotlight as one of the last torchbearers to ignite the Paris 2024 Cauldron and setting it alight into the sky at the end of the opening ceremony.
Eleven players from around the world were honoured with the role of carrying their nations flags, reflecting the growing importance of the sport on the global stage.
Spains Alvaro Valera added another milestone to his already illustrious Paralympic career as Spains flag bearer. Competing in his seventh Paralympic Games, Valera holds the only gold medal in table tennis in Spanish Paralympic history, winning gold at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Leli Marlina, Camelia Ciripan and Ghaliah Alanazi all make their Paralympic Games debut in style, honouring their country as Indonesias, Romanias and Saudi Arabias flag bearers respectively in Paris.
2000 Sydney gold medalist Alena Kanova made a grand entrance for her 7th Paralympic Games, carrying the flag for Slovakia tonight.
At just 17 years old, Chen Po Yen from Chinese Taipei was the youngest Para table tennis flag bearer of the night. Despite his age, Chen has quickly climbed the ranks, reaching the No. 6 spot in Mens class 11 since entering the scene in 2022.
Also representing their nations as flag bearers were Coty Garrone for Argentina, Ting Ting Wong for Hong Kong, China, Andela Muzinic Vincetic for Croatia, Colin Judge for Ireland, and Luke Bakic for Montenegro.
Flag Bearers from Table Tennis
Coty Garrone | Argentina
Po Yen Chen | Chinese Taipei
Andela Muzinic Vincetic | Croatia
Ting Ting Wong | Hong Kong, China
Leli Marlina | Indonesia
Colin Judge | Ireland
Luka Bakic | Montenegro
Camelia Ciripan | Romania
Ghaliah Alanazi | Saudi Arabia
Alena Kanova | Slovakia
Alvaro Valera | Spain