For what you will witness from Paralympic athletes are abilities and skills that surprise you, levels of resilience and determination that energise you, and camaraderie that will inspire you. Paralympians are also here to achieve something far greater than personal glory. They want equality and inclusion for themselves and for the world’s 1.3 billion persons with disabilities.”

These are the words of International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons during the incredible opening ceremony for the Paris Paralympic Games on Wednesday night. Just like the Olympic Games last month, the opening ceremony took place outside of a stadium for the first time in Paralympic Games history, along the iconic Champs-Élysées.

Parsons called for freedom, inclusion and equality in his speech. For the four Irish athletes – Michael Murphy, Jessica McKenna, Kate Kerr Horan and Sarah Slattery – it is a night they will never forget and for viewers watching from home, it left us feeling truly awe-inspired.

For the second time in a month, the French organising committee have pulled off something spectacular with outside of the box thinking. The venue of Versailles will come to life again with horses and humans next week as the incredible athletes take to the arena.

We wish the athletes, their chef d’equipe Debora Pijpers and the entire team of backroom staff the best of luck as competition kicks off on Tuesday. You can read more about the athletes and their chances, as well as hear from Pijpers, on page 83.

On the home front, there is no sign of any slowdown on the equestrian calendar just yet. This week, we have coverage from the National Pony Show jumping Championships, Clifden, Moate, Lisgarvan international horse trials, the Pony Club eventing championships and much more. This weekend sees the Irish Breeders’ Classic take place in Barnadown and, running alongside the Paralympics next week is the Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Enjoy the reading!