Paris 2024 Paralympics | Arena Paris Sud: Para Athletes Connect with the Crowd

Turning to Goalball

As the excitement from the Para Table Tennis died down, the French men’s Goalball team hit the court against the United States, determined to avoid finishing at the bottom of Group A. On the French bench, one of the day’s standout players was ready to shine. Number 4, Thomas Ramos-Martins, hadn’t seen much playtime since the tournament began, but he was a master at firing up the crowd.

Throughout the match, he kept rallying the fans, urging them to make more noise, his arms raised towards the stands. “These bursts of energy from the crowd really lift us; they give us a momentary escape,” said Nabil Baich, number 3 of the French team, after the match. “Then, when the noise dies down, it’s just us, the ball, and our opponents.”

Despite the passionate support and a last-minute goal from French star Elias Ouni, Vivien Fournier’s team narrowly lost 5-4 and will face the top team from Group B in the quarter-finals. “Even though we can’t make noise between plays, I absolutely loved watching Goalball,” said Julie, a law student, with excitement. “I have to admit, I had to check the rules online a few times, but it was such a great experience!”

On the women’s side, the French team got off to a flying start, scoring in the first minute thanks to Adelia Ajami. Number 5 scored her team’s first-ever goal in Paralympic Games history. “I couldn’t believe it when my teammate told me I’d scored,” confessed the Para athlete. “The noise was unbelievable!” But the Korean team then took control, securing a 6-1 victory. The French women have one more match to avoid finishing last in Group D, facing off against Japan.

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