ISTANBUL With flags waving and spirits high, Istanbul has kicked off the European Para Youth Games , hosting the event for the first time with hundreds of young para-athletes from across the continent. Athletes from 33 countries, totaling over 650 participants, paraded through a sports complex in the city on July 24, greeting officials and spectators in a festive start to the games. The ceremony opened with a promotional film highlighting Istanbul’s iconic landmarks. Subsequently, the teams