THE Paralympic Games have opened in Paris and two local athletes are preparing to showcase their talents on the big stage.

Dunfermline paratriathlete, Alison Peasgood, and Fife AC T20 1500 metres runner, Ben Sandilands, are both in the Team GB squad that will be aiming for medals over the next 11 days.

The opening ceremony for the Games was held last night (Wednesday) ahead of the opening day of competition today (Thursday).

Alison will go for glory in the women's PTVI - for athletes with a visual impairment - paratriathlon event on Monday.

The 36-year-old, who trains in Loughborough, is taking part in her third Paralmypic Games, having won a silver medal at Rio 2016 alongside then-guide, Hazel Smith, and placing fourth at the delayed Tokyo Games of 2021.

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She is one of 11 athletes, and three guides, in the GB paratriathlon squad, the largest they have ever taken to a Games, and returned to competitive action earlier this year following the birth of her son, Logan, last August.

She finished second at the World Triathlon Para Series Devonport, in Tasmania, Australia, in March before placing third in her second race back, which she matched in June, at the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea.

After her selection was confirmed, she told Paralympics GB that it had been "such an emotional rollercoaster to get to this point of qualifying for my third games", and that she was looking forward to "representing Paralympics GB alongside my amazing guide Brooke".

A former goalkeeper with Dunfermline Ladies reserves, Glenrothes-based Brooke, 26, first raced with Alison in 2021, taking bronze at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

They went on to win silver at the 2022 European Championships, and then claim their maiden win together at the World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon, before winning a second World Championships bronze in their final race before Alison took maternity leave.

Their race takes place on Monday and begins at 9.10am BST.

Meanwhile, Fife AC's 2023 Para Athletics World Championships gold medallist Ben will go on the run for more medal glory on Friday September 6.

Ben Sandilands will compete in his first Paralympic Games.Ben Sandilands will compete in his first Paralympic Games. (Image: David Wardle.)

The 21-year-old, who hails from Kirkcaldy but is part of a training group led by coach, Steve Doig, that meets at Pitreavie Athletics Centre and includes 2021 Paralympic T20 1500m champion, Owen Miller, is competing at his first Games.

Last summer, Ben memorably ran to global gold in his maiden Para Athletics World Championships, producing a superb final 250m to overhaul the USA's two-time world champion, and 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallist, Michael Brannigan.

Ben's training partner, and former Woodmill High School pupil, Owen, will miss out on the chance to defend the title he won in incredible fashion three years ago after injuries hit his hopes of earning selection.