The Paris Paralympic Games kicked off with an opening ceremony held in a festive mood at the heart of the French capital.

In the ceremony, athletes from across the globe paraded through the Champs-Elysees and entered the Place de la Concorde. French President Emmanuel Macron declared the opening of the 17th Summer Paralympics, and the Paralympic cauldron was lit.

France is hosting a Summer Paralympics for the first time. A total of about 4,400 athletes from nearly 170 countries and regions, a record high, and the refugee team are set to compete in 549 events in 22 sports during the Paralympics, which runs until September 8. About 45 pct of the athletes are women, marking the highest share in a Summer Paralympics on record.