France Celebrates the Conclusion of a Triumphant Paralympic Games

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SAINT-DENIS, France -- This time, it's truly goodbye. The summer of sports that began with an impressive opening ceremony on the Seine River back on July 26, under heavy rain, was officially ending on Sunday with the closing of the Paralympics at a rain-soaked Stade de France. These back-to-back events, both the Olympics and Paralympics, were a huge success. They attracted many fans and set a high standard for future hosts. Good luck to Los Angeles in 2028! As the stadium was lit up with the blue, white, and red colors of the French flag, a trumpet player performed the national anthem, "La Marseillaise." Paralympic flag-bearers then entered the stadium with their national flags, accompanied by the famous tune "Chariots of Fire" by Vangelis. Tony Estanguet, the head of the Paris Olympics for 2024, said during his closing speech, "Everyone now knows what an inclusive world looks like. There's no going back from here." Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, praised France for being an excellent host for both the Olympics and Paralympics. "Paris 2024 has set a new standard for future Paralympic Games," Parsons said. "France, already known for its fashion and food, is now also known for its amazing fans." The audience enjoyed a breakdancing performance, and later on Sunday, renowned French electronic music composer Jean-Michel Jarre was set to close out the ceremony. Directed once again by Thomas Jolly, the event aimed to turn the stadium into a massive outdoor dance party. More than 20 DJs, including Étienne de Crécy, Martin Solveig, and Kavinsky, were to perform in a tribute to French electro music with the theme "Journey of the Wave." The 64,000 fans, along with the city of Paris, were saying farewell to the over 4,000 Paralympic athletes. **Summer Spirit Continues** After the successful Olympics, which showcased the excitement of fans from around the world and the beauty of Paris's famous landmarks, there were concerns that the energy might not carry over into the Paralympics, held from August 28 to September 8. However, those worries proved unfounded. Athletes received strong support, though not all events were sold out. The end of the summer holiday season and children returning to school played a part in this. Nevertheless, 2.4 million tickets out of 2.8 million were sold, the second-highest number after the 2.7 million sold for the 2012 London Paralympics. This was especially impressive considering that by late June, only 1 million tickets had been sold. Many Parisians left the city during this time, concerned about traffic, political unrest, social tensions, and security risks. But the locals who stayed and fans from other parts of France came out in full force to cheer for their athletes in both the Olympics and Paralympics. Estanguet, a former Olympic canoeing champion, said, "These Games helped us rediscover our creativity. This is the France that smiles and embraces itself."