Veteran para-athlete Samwel Mushai and para-rower Asiya Sururu will be the flag bearers when Team Kenya steps out for the opening ceremony of the 17th edition of the Paralympic Games at the iconic Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées in Paris, France today.

Kenya is being represented by 13 athletes and seven guides at the Games after para-cyclist Dedan Ireri was dropped in the eleventh hour on medical conditions according to team officials.

Just like the just concluded Olympic Games in the French capital, the ground breaking opening ceremony will take place outside the confines of a traditional stadium.

“Team Kenya is ready and this is what we have been preparing for. We are upbeat, the mood in good and the athletes are ready for the opening ceremony on Wednesday evening, before we get down to business on Thursday morning,” said Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC) Secretary General Stanley Mutuma.

Directed by artistic director Thomas Jolly, the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, set to begin at 7pm Kenyan time, has yet to reveal all its secrets. What is known includes a ceremony at the heart of the city, featuring a parade along the Champs-Eysees and a subsequent show at Place de la Concorde.

Titled “Paradox,” the show will focus “on all bodies,” according to Jolly. The musical signature will once again be provided by Victor Le Masne, the composer of the Olympic Games anthem, while the choreography has been designed by Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman.

As for the closing ceremony on 8 September at the Stade de France, it will feature a grand electronic music concert, with 24 artists and DJs, including Jean-Michel Jarre, the iconic French electro figure, who will be joined by other big names from the ‘French Touch’ movement.

Meanwhile, former Kenya Sevens international Oscar Dennis, now a para-cyclist, has replaced injured Benson Mwaniki as Kennedy Ogada’s guide in tandem road race B1 (completely blind).

Dennis, who trains both in South Africa and Europe was unveiled yesterday by Mutuma, who is also an international para-cyclist in tandem category.

Mutuma is happy that Kenya, for the first time, is being represented in more disciplines, five of them; the traditional athletics, rowing and powerlifting and cycling. Taekwondo and cycling are taking part for the first time.

Mutuma said that the athletes have acclimatised enough, having been in France for at least three weeks starting with their pre- games camp in Compiegne, north of Paris on August 8.

Mutuma said that he is glad Dennis has joined Team Kenya in camp and will have some days to be acquainted with Ogada, who will compete in B1 on September 4.

Ogada and his pilot Mwaniki were involved in a freak accident while training in Compiegne but Ogada emerged unscathed.

“It’s unfortunate Mwaniki sustained some back and shoulder injuries that have ruled him out,” said Mutuma, adding that Mwaniki will take a minimum of six weeks to recover.

“I whole-heartedly and warmly welcome Dennis to the team. He really wanted to be here in triathlon but was not graded on time,” Mutuma disclosed. “He is not new to the sport, having played rugby to the highest level before embracing para-cycling after an accident.”