The Paris Paralympics officially opened Wednesday, bringing the world’s largest event for athletes with disabilities to the French capital for the first time. Around 4,400 athletes representing a record 167 countries and regions, plus a small refugee team, paraded down the Champs-Elysees before converging at the Place de la Concorde in a ceremony that defied conventions by taking place outside a stadium and showcasing the city’s iconic landmarks. Crowds cheered from temporary stands as athletes proceeded into the famed square under clear skies to blaring electronic music, marking a stark contr…