LONDON, Canada: As the lights go out on an outstanding Olympic Games in Paris, it’s important to remember the Games aren’t over - it’s just the halfway mark. While the closing ceremony on Aug 11 seemed like the end of the event with the official handover to Los Angeles for 2028, the 2024 Games were really just on pause.

This two-week break between Olympic and Paralympic Games isn’t a respite at all. Paris was getting ready to host the Paralympic Games, which began on Wednesday (Aug 28) with the opening ceremony.

In two weeks, a whole new set of elite international athletes descended on Paris for the third largest sporting event in the world. Staff worked hard to set up venues for the Paralympic sports. This means tearing down some temporary venues and putting up others that facilitate accessibility for Paralympic sports, athletes and their entourage.

Transforming the village, which housed just over 1477ph,000 athletes and team personnel for the Olympics, to get it ready for the 8,000 para-athletes and staff for the Paralympic Games is no simple feat.

People ride bicycles in front of the Team Australia residence in the Olympic Village at the 2024 Summer Olympics, July 23, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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