"VAN" (Olympic Desk - Paris, France - 09.09.2024) :: Good evening and welcome to the Stade de France and the IPC’s live coverage of the Paralympics closing ceremony. My name is Harry De Cosemo and I will be taking you through it all.
What a Games it has been! Paris 2024 produced so many amazing stories, with records and medals galore; it all ended on Sunday with the marathon, Para canoe, Para powerlifting and wheelchair basketball.
We’re here to celebrate the last 10 days of action. So settle in, grab a cup of tea and join us for one last huge party! It’ll be epic as Paris prepares to hand over to LA 2028, when we’ll do it all again in four years’ time...
Singing in the rain...
Unfortunately, as we sit here high up in the press tribune at Stade de France, rain is pouring down. Let’s hope it dries up later, although a quick check of the local forecast suggests we might be in for the long haul. Buckle up, folks; in some ways, it is the perfect metaphor for summer, and the Paralympics, coming to an end.
I’m sure it won’t dampen any spirits. They’ve already announced over the speakers: “We’ll be singing in the rain as we party in Paris.”
Selfie time
The Phryge, Paris 2024’s official mascot, has been out in force taking selfies with all the athletes sat around the Stade de France stage. The buzz in the stadium has been building for an hour, with clapping, dancing and chanting. There isn’t a spare seat in the house and the resident DJ has been geeing up the huge crowd.
Here we go!
It’s getting darker now and the stadium is looking even more impressive, and the action is in full flow...
We’ve had a performance from Santa, with an incredible light show. Even I’ve got a cool wristband; there are fireworks. Among the guests is France president Emmmanuel Macron.
The French national anthem
On the trumpet! This gives me goosebumps every time.
Next up there is a band playing “Les Champs-Elysees". This song is incredible; the soundtrack of the Games in my opinion. Absolutely everyone is getting involved and loving it!
Excuse me while I sing along... “Aux... Champs-Elysees!”
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor is their next offering. Can they stay all night?
Parade of the Flags
The Parade of the Flags of Nations has begun. The Stade de France is absolutely rocking.
No prizes for guessing which country got the biggest cheer...
It is the perfect send-off for the 168 nations that have competed in Paris during the Games.
Time for the speeches
The president of Paris 2024 Tony Estanguet and International Paralympic Commitee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons have been addressing the crowd.
The crowd responded brilliantly to Mr Estanguet. The stadium erupted when he mentioned France’s blind football win over Argentina, as he picks out his highlights of the Games.
Mr Parsons then stepped up and said Paris 2024 “has set a benchmark for all Paralympic Games”.
He added France is now famous for its fans, which unsurprisingly went down very well, before adding that the athletes were the “stars of the show”.
Newly elected Athletes' Council
The four new members were announced and took centre stage. They include Italian Martina Cironi (Para athletics), Malta’s Vladyslava Kravchenko (Para swimming) who were re-elected, while Portugal’s Lenine Cunha (Para athletics) became the first member with an intellectual impairment. Denise Schindler (Para cycling) was the final announcement.
After being treated to some breakdancing on stage, the Paralympic anthem was played and impeccably respected. The Paralympic flag handover ceremony then followed, before the American national anthem.
Next stop, LA 2028...
Incredible atmosphere
I really like the Olympic and Paralympic music that has been playing at every medal ceremony too. It has just been over the speakers. Whoever is in charge of music for these things, well done. Excellent work.
The wrist bands are flashing again and there’s some amazing fireworks, causing the crowd to roar in response. I’m loving these live shows!
Full party mode!
Athletes are dancing in the rain! They are all letting their hair down after an incredible effort over the last couple of weeks.
More light shows, more atmosphere please. Even the press tribune is bouncing!
DJ Busy P is absolutely killing it as the vibes keep on rolling at the Stade de France.
Did you know he was Daft Punk’s manager for 12 years? Me neither. But you learn new things every day.
There’s a Phryge getting right into this, dancing along with the athletes. We are well past formal now!
To top it all off, global chart topper Martin Solveig is closing the show with a tribute to Daft Punk while surrounded by athletes from Team France partying the night away to the sound of "One More Time".
Thanks and goodbye!
Well, that’s it. Thanks for joining me for this coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony. I’ve had a blast, I hope you have too.
Merci, Paris. You were incredible.
See you in LA in 2028!
Cr-PARALYMPICS
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