Britain’s Paralympics 2024 hopefuls line up for opening ceremony of Games in Paris

BRITAIN’S Paralympic hopefuls lined up for the opening ceremony of the games in Paris last night.

Tennis champ Lucy Shuker and basketball’s Terry Bywater were Team GB flagbearers.

Reuters

Terry Bywater and Lucy Shuker led the Team GB contingent during the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in Paris[/caption]

Basketball player Terry Bywater waves the Union Flag in Paris. His fellow flagbearer Lucy Shuker described the honour as a ‘dream come true’

Reuters

The Patrouille de France flies over the Obelisk of Luxor as part of celebrations[/caption]

A group of Paralympians arrive at the ceremony in Paris. Team GB has sent a 215-strong team who have a target of 100+ medals

Lucy said: “It’s a dream come true to carry the flag at the biggest sporting event in the world.

“When I was told, I started crying. Team-mates were coming up to me with tears in their eyes as well.”

The ceremony itself got underway spectacularly with the athletes showing off their colours to the spectators in France as they made their way down the Place de la Concorde.

ParalympicsGB — second at both the 2016 and pandemic-delayed 2020 Paras — have been set a UK Sport target of 100 to 140 medals.

China’s stars have topped every Games since Athens 2004 but the 215-strong British squad want to be the best of the rest in the capital of France.

Britain — who won 41 golds and 124 medals at the Tokyo Games — are expected to enjoy day-one success in swimming and cycling.

UK Sport’s Dr Kate Baker said: “Our athletes achieving their potential is the ultimate satisfaction.

In an Instagram pic with pundits Clare Balding and Libby Clegg she said: “My first games from the other side and so excited.”

“Of course, it would be satisfying to be ahead of the US, Australia and Brazil — all the other nations who are in that bunched-up space just behind us.

“We have to be realistic and it may not go our way.

“And if it doesn’t, it won’t be a reflection of the hard work that has gone into the system or the talent of this group of athletes.”

Swim star Ellie Simmonds, 29, is a presenter after winning gold at every Paralympics since she was 13.

In an Instagram pic with pundits Clare Balding and Libby Clegg she said: “My first games from the other side and so excited.”

Smoke in the colours of the French flag is released during last night’s Opening Ceremony

Swimmer Ellie Simmonds in an Instagram pic with pundits Clare Balding and Libby Clegg, left, who will present the coverage