The ceremony, unlike traditional stadium events, will unfold across the iconic Champs-Élysées, transforming this world-famous avenue into the stage for a grand "popular parade." Starting at 20:00 CEST, the spectacle will stretch from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, where the more formal and artistic segments will take place. The latter part of the ceremony, held on a 4,500 square-metre stage, will be ticketed, with four grandstands surrounding the area, while the initial parade portion will be accessible to the public for free.

Claeys, who earned two bronze medals in dressage at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, expressed her immense pride in being chosen. "As a proud Paralympic athlete, I feel enormously honoured with this assignment. We have a role to play as role models for people with disabilities, but also for others, because we show that anything is possible if you don't give up," she said. Claeys added that she is already feeling the excitement of leading the Belgian team in such an iconic setting, acknowledging the "goosebumps" the thought gives her.

Gérard, a veteran of the Paralympic Games, is equally honoured, particularly as this will be his final Games. The tennis player, who won a bronze medal in singles at Rio 2016, and who experienced severe heart problems during the Tokyo Games, stated, "Even for an 'old hand' like me, it's something extraordinary, especially since these are my last Games. Hopefully, I can show Paralympic Team Belgium the way to victory and inspire the younger athletes with my experience."

Olek Kazimirowski, head of mission for Paralympic Team Belgium, highlighted the significance of selecting both a male and female athlete as flag bearers. "We are very happy to count on athletes with such impressive track records as Manon and Jo," Kazimirowski remarked. "We were also keen to be represented by both a man and a woman."

The Belgian Paralympic delegation comprises 29 athletes, ready to compete across various sports in Paris. Three years ago in Tokyo, para-dressage rider Michèle George and goalball player Bruno Vanhove were the team's flag bearers, with wheelchair sprinter Peter Genyn carrying the flag during the closing ceremony.