On Tuesday, 258 Torchbearers took turns to carry the Paralympic Torch through seven départements in the Île-de-France, where almost all the events will take place. The first Torch passed through Seine-Saint-Denis, a department that has been at the heart of Paris 2024 from day one. Over the coming days, it will host the Paralympic marathon, sitting volleyball, Para-athletics and Para-road cycling events. 

Seven towns in Seine-Saint-Denis rolled out the red carpet for the Paralympic Torch: Montfermeil, Livry-Gargan, Clichy-sous-Bois and Sevran in the morning and Épinay-sur-Seine, Villetaneuse, Le Pré-Saint-Gervais and Pantin in the afternoon. The day ended at Le Prisme in Bobigny, a state-of-the-art facility that is set to become a cornerstone of para-sport. 

Although not yet officially open to the public, it is already buzzing with Olympic and Paralympic delegations preparing for the competition. The French Para-judoka Sandrine Martinet, a Rio 2016 gold medallist, was the final torchbearer to light the cauldron in front of the crowd on the third day of the Paralympic Torch Relay. 

At the same time, the Paralympic torch lit up Val-d'Oise, making its way through the vast green spaces of the Parc du Château in Louvres, along the long Axe Majeur promenade in Cergy and in front of the listed historic monument Château de La Roche-Guyon. 

In Seine-et-Marne, spectators caught a glimpse of the Torch at the La Noyerie Sports Complex in Trilport and at the National Defence Sports Centre in Fontainebleau. It also illuminated the rich heritage of Val-de-Marne, passing by the castles of Sucy-en-Brie and Valenton. 

In Hauts-de-Seine, the Paralympic torch highlighted the NOHa programme, an initiative supported by Garches-Vaucresson that will give 4,000 students from the EREA Toulouse Lautrec high school a taste of Para-sports during the Paralympics. The torch also found a home in the heart of the 460-hectare Saint-Cloud national estate, a landscape dotted with fountains and sculptures. 

In Essonne, the relay stopped at the Jean Miaud stadium in Grigny. Yvelines also got its share of the limelight when the torch visited the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome, a key Paralympic venue that will host the Para-track cycling events. The torch then made its way to Houdan, casting its light near the town's medieval keep. 

The first Team Relay took place in Fontainebleau, bringing together 22 beneficiaries of the ESMS&Clubs programme. Launched by the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, aims to bridge the gap between sports clubs and medical and social institutions. The two captains were Jérôme Rousseau, director of Novosports, a charity that promotes inclusive sport, and Mégane Siewe, an ESMS&Clubs participant.

The second Team Relay of the day took place in Bobigny and was a tribute to those who dedicate themselves daily to supporting people with disabilities. Melissa and her mother Elizabeth Genix Ollier, whose story is one of triumph over adversity, sent a powerful message as captains by cycling 300km on a tandem bike in 2023 to raise awareness of carers. 

Their journey reflects a battle with epilepsy and tuberous sclerosis. The group was joined by 22 other Torchbearers, including Amarantha Barclay Bourgeois, director of JADE, a charity that supports young carers, and athletes from a range of disciplines, including Paralympic wheelchair fencing champion Robert Citerne, and bronze medallists Olivier Donval in Para-cyclism and Hélios Latchoumanaya in Para-judo. 

Latchoumanaya will be chasing another medal at the upcoming Paralympics, as will the Para-equestrian Lisa Cez and the Para-swimmer David Smétanine, who represents athletes on the International Paralympic Committee. Other torchbearers included Demba Sidibe, a two-time French blind football champion, and Pascal Donnadieu, assistant coach of the silver medal-winning French Olympic basketball team. 

The relay featured everyday heroes, such as Olivia Dupont, a special needs teacher who works with teenagers with neurodevelopmental disorders, and Brigitte Rakotoarisoa, who provides therapeutic horseback riding for people with autism spectrum disorders. They were joined by Daniel Brisard (wheelchair badminton), Gabriel Machin (basketball and Lion's Cup) and Quentin Boudeville (wheelchair handball). 

After lighting the Paralympic Torch Relay with five unforgettable concerts in Marseille, Rennes, Saint-Étienne, Paris and Parc Georges-Valbon, the Coca-Cola Music Tour came to an end in Bobigny. In a festive atmosphere, the exceptional show featured Imen Es, who has been on a roll since her debut album in 2020, Pierre de Maere, winner of the Victoire de la Musique in 2023, and the up-and-coming Janahee.