Sports
Emmanuel Macron booed as Paris says farewell to 2024 Paralympics
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The Paralympics said goodbye for four more years on a wet night in Paris. The evening was kicked off by musician Santa, who perfectly represented this occasion as she is of French and American descent, symbolising the passing of the torch from Paris 2024 to Los Angeles 2028.
French president Emmanuel Macron was met with plenty of boos inside the Stade de France when he was introduced to the crowd at the start of the night.
Para swimmer Poppy Maskill and para taekwondo’s Matt Bush were chosen to be ParalympicsGB’s flag bearers for the closing ceremony. Broadway star Ali Stroker sung the American national anthem as Los Angeles took the torch from Paris.
It has been another tremendously successful Games for ParalympicsGB, who won 124 medals including 49 golds. The team finished second in the medal table, quite some way behind China, who won 94 golds and a total of 220 medals. Great Britain matched their overall medal total from Tokyo three years ago but won eight more golds in Paris.
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Paris says farewell to Paralympics: As it happened
09:34 PM BST
Another wonderful Games
“Techno in the teeming rain. It has been another wonderful Paralympic Games. Paris is right up there. Here’s the eight I’ve attended in ranking order:
London
Paris
Sydney
Rio
Beijing
Tokyo
Athens
Atlanta
“London was very, very special. Paris had the best Opening Ceremony. Bar none. But London set the standard. There are always issues. But these Games have shown, after lockdown, that the crowds will come and support humans at the forefront of their own physicality. Proud of the movement, and what it stands for. It is a barometer of our humanity. The sport has been off the charts. As it ends. My hope is that many of the GB team are elevated to where they belong.
“That Dame Sarah Storey gets a peerage, and continues her work in the House of Lords; that taekwondo gold medalists Matt Bush and Amy Truesdale cross over into mainstream fame; that Games’ debutant Poppy Maskill, who finished with a haul of three gold and two silver medals, is recognised; that Ellie Challis, a quadruple amputee who had meningitis, becomes a powerful advocate for her generation; that Alfie Hewett’s match with Tokito Oda, at Roland Garros, is truly celebrated. I could go on… And here’s hoping that the USA, and LA, truly deliver. There is not the greatest record of Paralympic support for US athletes. Now it will change, you suspect. It must.”
09:22 PM BST
Goodbye to Paris
09:20 PM BST
It may be a soggy night in Paris but that will not dampen the spirits
09:16 PM BST
Athletes enjoying themselves
Time to let their hair down as a huge conga line has formed amongst the athletes. The noise is fairly deafening!
09:15 PM BST
The build-up begins
09:02 PM BST
Party time
With a lot of the formalities now out of the way, it is time to have some fun inside the Stade de France, still in the pouring rain! Jean-Michel Jarre, the father of electronic music in France, is at the heart of it now with 23 other artists. It is more like a nightclub inside the Stade de France now than a sports stadium.
09:00 PM BST
London inspired
“Spoke to Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the French politician and former professional tennis player who has been Minister of Sports and Olympic and Paralympic Games, a little while ago. Amélie told me that “Paris 2024 was inspired by what you did in London,” which is powerful for GB’s legacy given that the politician has served under two prime ministers here. Powerful, too, that GB’s Games had resonance and legacy.
“We discussed the transport issues facing them at Paris 2024, and in my view, that was going to be their biggest issue. In every other way, I think Paris 2024 equalled London. Transport… no. We had a village with several sports bordering it in East London. Paris has the great Haussmann, and his renovation of Paris in the 1850s, to blame. A blessing, for parisian beauty, a curse for running a Games with 20-plus venues…
“Also, I couldn’t help asking the Minister if we would be getting Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le Taxi – tonight. “No, it’s all techno…” she replied. Shame.”
08:58 PM BST
Extinguishing the flame
Six French Paralympians are there to blow out the flame inside the Stade de France. Aurélie Aubert, Paralympic champion in Boccia, has the honour of doing so. The impressive cauldron is also extinguished. I can still remember how sad a moment that was back in London 2012, as that really felt like the moment where it had properly come to an end.
08:57 PM BST
No athletics gold
Here is a stat for you. Across both the Olympics and Paralympics, France did not win a single gold in the athletics inside the Stade de France.
08:54 PM BST
Back to Paris
We are back over to France and we are soon to say goodbye to the incredible flame.
08:50 PM BST
Entertainment
I think Los Angeles 2028 is going to be a whole lot of fun, across both the Olympics and Paralympics.
08:48 PM BST
Venice Beach
As we saw at the closing ceremony of the Olympics just a few weeks ago, we switch over to LA in the sunshine, obviously!
08:45 PM BST
Your turn LA
California Dreamin’ by the Mammas and the Papas signals Los Angeles’ first chance to show what 2028 is going to be all about. Cue VT!
08:43 PM BST
US national anthem
The Stade de France rises for the national anthem of the USA, performed by Broadway star Ali Stroker.
08:40 PM BST
Handing over of the flag
Always a sad moment for the hosts as the paralympic flag, which has just been brought down, is handed from France to the USA. The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, join Andrew Parsons and Tony Estanguet on stage. The Mayor of Paris hands over the Paralympic flag to the IPC President, who passes it on to the Mayor of Los Angeles.
On a side note it is absolutely bucketing it down in Paris, with umbrellas and ponchos very much necessary inside the Stade de France.
08:37 PM BST
Paralympic anthem
“Hymne de l’Avenir”, which translates to “Anthem of the Future”. It was composed by Thierry Darnis and adopted in 1996. The lyrics were written by Australian singer Graeme Connors in 2001.
08:34 PM BST
Wet end to proceedings in Paris
“It’s a glowing, emotional and wet end to the 17th summer Paralympic Games. Andrew Parsons, the IPC president, who I spoke with earlier today, has very strong views on how the Paralympic Movement must be run. “Not on my watch,” replied the Brazilian president of the global movement for citizens with disabilities, to any suggestion that the Olympics and Paralympics might become one. “It would dilute what we have.” “In art, culture, even politics, the Games are the most powerful thing we have anywhere in the world to bring change for people with disabilities.”
“I’ve been around to see both Sir Philip Craven and Robert Steadward in seven previous Games as president, and Parsons is always on point. Aided by his press chief Craig Spence, a Brit, who used to work in rugby league.”
08:31 PM BST
Back to the performances
Time to listen to music and watch performances on the stage, including some breaking.
08:30 PM BST
New IPC Athletes’ Council elected
The crowd are introduced to the six members of the IPC Athletes’ Council, who were elected by their fellow athletes in a vote that took place during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Lenine Cunha (Portugal, para athletics)
Martina Caironi (Italy, para athletics)
Vladyslava Kravchenko (Malta, para swimming)
Yoomin Won (Korea, wheelchair basketball)
Yujiao Tan (China, para powerlifting)
Denise Schindler (Germany, para cycling)
08:26 PM BST
Thank you Paris
Parsons was full of praise for France throughout his speech and finishes with a bit of French.
08:21 PM BST
Parsons calls for change
Andrew Parsons says that Paris has sent the benchmark for all future Games. He thanks Estanguet and the Paris committee for a sensational Games. He talks about inspiration and calls for changes in attitudes and views going forward. “Obstacles must become opportunities”. “Change starts with sport”.
08:17 PM BST
Plenty of thanks
Estanguet closes out his speech by thanking the people of Paris, the volunteers, who he calls on the crowd to give a huge round of applause to. He says he is immensely honoured to have taken on this role he has had at Paris 2024.
He hands over now to Andrew Parsons.
08:11 PM BST
Inclusivity
Estanguet praises how inclusive these Games have been but it is tinged with a little sadness as Paris says farewell after a busy summer which included both the Olympics and Paralympics, all in the space of a matter of weeks. Understandably he shifts the praise onto the people of Paris.
The moment he mentions Leon Marchand, who was France’s star during the Olympics, the noise level rises inside the Stade de France. Estanguet emphasises the importance of the legacy of this summer, which we know all too well from London 2012.
08:08 PM BST
Speeches
Time for some speeches. Firstly it is Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee. Then we will hear from the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons.
Estanguet, speaking in French, calls on the crowd to give the loudest, longest applause to the athletes who have competed at these Paralympics. The entirety of the Stade de France certainly responds to his calls. He then turns his hand to some English, which makes things a little easier for viewers on this side of the Channel!
07:57 PM BST
Maskill and Bush flying the flag
07:53 PM BST
I Will Survive
We have had some great songs played by the house band already and now we are treated to Gloria Gaynor’s smash hit ‘I Will Survive’, which has certainly got the crowd going.
07:45 PM BST
Parade
The flag bearers are making their way around the Stade de France, with Paralympics GB represented by para swimmer Poppy Maskill and para taekwondo’s Matt Bush. Chariots of Fire is being played by the band as the flags are carried around.
07:41 PM BST
Boos
Ahead of the French national anthem, there are plenty of audible boos for French president Emmanuel Macron as he is introduced to the Stade de France alongside the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons.
07:39 PM BST
Former and current French presidents in attendance
07:36 PM BST
Getting it kicked off
Santa, whose real name is Samanta Cotta, kicks off the night with a rather passionate performance. She in many ways represents tonight as she is of both French and American descent, symbolising the handing over from Paris 2024 to Los Angeles 2028.
07:29 PM BST
Here we go
The closing ceremony is getting started in the rain in Paris.
07:24 PM BST
Goodbye Paris
07:19 PM BST
Another successful Paralympics
Hannah Cockroft has added two golds at these Games to make it nine golds at the Paralympics.
07:14 PM BST
Handing over
Tonight is not only about saying goodbye to Paris 2024, but also starting the long build-up to Los Angeles 2028. What will the USA have in store tonight?
07:11 PM BST
Great Britain’s final athlete in action today
07:08 PM BST
Comparison to Tokyo
Back at Tokyo 2020, Great Britain won 41 gold medals whereas this time around in Paris the team has won 49. Not only was the Tokyo Paralympics during Covid times, but with these Games being just over the English Channel in Paris the ParalympicsGB athletes have had huge support from family and friends.
07:05 PM BST
Athletes gathering
Some rain around in Paris tonight so ponchos at the ready!
06:57 PM BST
Paralympics marathon runner stripped of medal after helping guide with cramp metres from finish
“A Paralympic marathon runner was left ‘devastated’ after being disqualified and denied a bronze medal for an error just metres from the finish line.
“Elena Congost let go of her rope momentarily after her guide, Mia Carol, cramped up late in the race on Sunday, the final day of the Paris Games.
“The Spaniard was left in tears after officials had ruled she broke the regulations, with the bronze medal being awarded to Japan’s Misato Michishita. Runners in the T12 event for athletes with visual impairments must be tethered to their guide for the duration of the race.”
Gareth A Davies has the full story from Paris.
06:51 PM BST
Storey among Britain’s greatest athletes and deserves Spoty honour
“It was fitting that Sarah Storey produced one of her most thrilling finishes to claim a 19th Paralympic gold medal by overcoming 19-year-old Frenchwoman Heïdi Gaugain in the road race.
“Does the great Dame of cycling now rank as one of GB’s greatest athletes in any sport after nine Games appearances? Indeed, should Storey also be a shoo-in for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
“There is certainly an argument to be made for both. Storey, 46, ought to be recognised as a national treasure.
For more from Gareth A Davies, click here.
06:43 PM BST
Great Britain team photo
06:42 PM BST
ParalympicsGB finish only behind China
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06:33 PM BST
Closing ceremony preview
Good evening and welcome to coverage of the 2024 Paris Paralympics closing ceremony. The final gold medal has been handed out and it is time for Paris to say goodbye for a second time this summer, this time to the Paralympics.
It has been another tremendously successful Games for ParalympicsGB, which saw the team win 124 medals including 49 golds. Therefore the team finished second in the medal table, quite some way though behind China, who won 94 golds and a total of 220 medals. 49 golds is Great Britain’s second best haul of golds since 1996, with the 64 in Rio in 2016 eclipsing it.
Para swimmer Poppy Maskill, who won three golds and two silvers on debut, and para taekwondo’s Matt Bush, who won a gold, have been chosen to be ParalympicsGB’s flag bearers for tonight’s closing ceremony.
Tonight’s closing ceremony will be the last for six-time Paralympic champion David Weir, who has retired from Great Britain competition. He finished fifth in the men’s T54 marathon earlier today. He will though continue to compete in the major international marathons.
“I’m quite emotional as I know it’s my last race for GB, this will be my last international,” Weir said.
“I’ll still do the major marathons as I really enjoy them and I’ve got Berlin in two weeks. I knew before I came to Paris and I’ve been thinking about it all week. It’s the decision I want to make. It’s the right decision.”
“My body just couldn’t cope with it today to be honest. I was the oldest in that field today but still highly competitive. Daniel [Romanchuk, who finished fourth] is 20 years younger than me – I could be his dad – so I’m doing alright. I gave it my all today and that’s all I can give.
“I’ll look back on my GB career with pride. I don’t really pat myself on the back. I should really. I should be proud of what I’ve done. I’ve had a great career. I’m trying not to get emotional but it’s time. I think it’s time.”
As Paris says goodbye to the Paralympics, the build-up to Los Angeles 2028 can begin. If the Olympic closing ceremony is anything to go by, LA will be putting on a show for tonight to showcase what it will be all about in four years.
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