Over 80 Ukrainian athletes who competed in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were warmly welcomed yesterday, Friday, September 6, 2024, at Hôtel de Ville by Anne Hidalgo.
The Mayor of Paris had pledged: “Ukrainian athletes and para-athletes will be celebrated in Paris as heroes.” True to her word, they were honored daily, especially during the opening ceremony at Place de la Concorde, where the entire nation rose to applaud them.
Athletes Roman Danyliuk (bronze medal in shot put) and Iryna Poida (two silver medals and one bronze medal in para swimming) were presented with the Grand Vermeil Medal, Paris’s highest honor, by Anne Hidalgo on behalf of the entire Ukrainian delegation.
Valeriy Mykhailovych Sushkevych, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and President of the National Sports Committee for Persons with Disabilities (National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine), was also in attendance, along with a delegation of Ukrainian mayors, including representatives from Kharkiv, Poltava, and Slavutych.
This was not the first time Paris paid tribute to these heroes. Just a month ago, the Mayor had honored 30 Ukrainian athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during a ceremony attended by Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sports Matvii Bidni and Ukrainian Ambassador to France Vadym Omelchenko, who was present once again for yesterday’s medal presentation.
Each celebration also serves as a poignant reminder of those who are no longer with us. Since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, nearly 500 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed. Their memory was honored, as the athletes present embodied resilience and courage in the face of adversity.
For these athletes, Paris 2024 is more than just a competition—it is a symbol of struggle and hope for an entire nation. Despite their pain, they continue to represent their country with pride, demonstrating unshakable strength.
Photos : Guillaume Bontemps
