Seven archers carry their nation’s flags at Paralympic opening ceremony

Seven archers from six countries were named flagbearers for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Wednesday evening 28 August.

They led their nations during the athletes’ parade from the Champs-Elysees to the Place de la Concorde, kicking off 11 days of para sport events.

The two archers from Bangladesh, Joma Akter and Al Amin Hossain, were chosen to carry their flag.

Costa Rica’s María del Pilar Riveros was flagbearer with taekwondo athlete Andres Molina.

Juan Diego Blas Fernández and para athlete Ericka Violeta Esteban Villatoro flew the Guatemalan banner.

Oyun-Erdene Buyanjargal and powerlifter Sodnompiljee Enkhbayar were the flagbearers of Mongolia.

Hungary’s Tamás Gáspár had the honour with fellow swimmer Fanni Illes.

First Filipino archer to qualify for the Paralympics, Agustina Maximo Bantiloc also flew her nation’s flag alongside swimmer Ernie Gawilan.

The host nation, France, was led by para athlete Nantenin Keita and triathlete Alexis Hanquinquant as they paraded last to follow the tradition.

The first-ever Paralympic Games in France held in France opened in the French capital last night with a breathtaking ceremony held in the city for the first time in history, ending with the lighting of the cauldron by five French Paralympians.

Some 4400 athletes from a record 168 countries compete at Paris 2024 in 22 sports, including a record number of women.

The archery competition in Paris starts today with qualifying. 

Archery flagbearers at Paris 2024 opening ceremony

• Bangladesh: Joma Akter and Al Amin Hossain
• Costa Rica: María del Pilar Riveros
• Guatemala: Juan Diego Blas Fernández
• Hungary: Tamás Gáspár
• Mongolia: Oyun-Erdene Buyanjargal
• Philippines: Agustina Maximo Bantiloc