In a city rich in regal splendour, Place de la Concorde holds a special place.
The biggest square in Paris - it's actually an octagon but let’s not get too pedantic - will be the epicentre of formalities for the opening ceremony of the Paralympics.
It was here, when the French tolerated their noble masters, that Royalty was feted and honoured. Adieu to the heady days of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour.
This time, as the opening ceremony begins, the crowds will be hailing the Paralympians - who embody the triumph of the human spirit, taking their place at the centre of another global sporting spectacular.
Team Ireland’s flag bearers are sprinter Orla Comerford and table tennis player Colin Judge.
The two Dubliners will lead an Irish team that rightly has big ambitions for the days ahead.
Swimmers Róisín Ní Ríain, Ellen Keane and Nicole Turner along with tandem cyclist Katie George Dunleavy are all genuine medal contenders. Ireland secured seven medals in Tokyo - four gold and two silver and one bronze.
The aim is for more of the same this time around in the French capital.
"Huge expectations," said Paralympics Ireland CEO Stephen McNamara.
"We definitely got a bump after the Olympic games and the excitement has been building over the last number of weeks."
The proximity of Paris could provide a big boost to Irish goals.
"The lovely thing about Paris is that it does feel like a home games," he said.
Paris has invested over €125 million to make the city more accessible. The investment is part of the game’s legacy in the French capital. It’s been widely reported that ticket sales for the various events in Stade De France, Porte de la Chapelle arena and Roland Garros stadium have been brisk.
Parisians who missed out during the Olympics are perhaps keen to savour the sporting atmosphere before the spectacle concludes.
In total, there will be over 4,000 competitors from some 160 countries competing in Paris. Team Ireland is made up of 35 athletes who will compete in nine different sports.
Will what’s planned in what will be the first Paralympic opening ceremony not to be staged inside a stadium hit the high notes in the same way that Celine Dion did at the top of the Eiffel Tower for the Olympics?
"What we saw in London 2012 was that, as the games progressed, we saw more and more day trippers coming and I think that’s what we will expect again," said Stephen McNamara.
"The excitement has certainly built through the Olympics. We have seen a huge number of people inquire about tickets, hotels, flights and hopefully everyone can get accommodated over the next few days and come and support the athletes."
Having Irish fans at the venues will not just serve to boost Team Ireland’s prospects. Team Ireland’s Chef De Mission Neasa Russell believes it will have a positive effect on the event as a whole, growing it in terms of recognition.
"We know our fans are legendary at this point," she said.
"It will make a huge difference - we know from this team that family are so important to their lives and their careers. Being able to have family there is something that’s really special and important to the athletes."
"Interestingly, half this team were in Tokyo, so they are well ready for a good cheer at this point," Ms Russell added.
"It will be a huge boost to the movement as well which is trying to use the showcasing of the games, the profile and the platform for the athletes themselves to perform to the best and also for us to move on the wider message and start to change the hearts and minds around the powers of Paralympians and their abilities," she said.
"Bit by bit on every (paralympic) cycle, we see more equitable opportunities and again what gives us great confidence going into Paris is knowing that we are part of the system that the Olympics work in.
"We have great confidence in the practitioners, the performance boards and the system behind us – that whole 'meitheal’ of everyone coming together to support us so we are on the right track."
The City of Light is poised, and Ireland’s Paralympians are ready to put on an inspirational show as ‘tout le monde’ watches on in awe.
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