The closing ceremony of the much-anticipated Paris Paralympics ended on Sunday, featuring a range of breathtaking performances with celebrating overtones.
French singer Santa opened the event with the classic Johnny Hallyday song “Vivre pour le Meilleur.” She was joined on stage by video sequences and images of the past three Paralympic Games, helping set a nostalgic mood in the air. Due to adverse weather conditions, however, the flight of the cauldron itself was canceled.
The Stade de France also welcomed many dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the IPC Andrew Parsons. The flag was hoisted to the stirring notes of “La Marseillaise” as the crowd joined in while the French Army’s different corps hoisted the flag.
Next was the Parade of Nations. Participating countries entered the stadium in alphabetical order. The band of the Republican Guard played a medley of French and international pop music, creating a festive and joyful atmosphere.
Harvinder Singh and Preeti Pal were India’s flag bearers. Harvinder became the first Indian to win gold in para-archery, and Preeti earned two bronze medals in para-athletics. Together, they symbolized India’s outstanding achievement, as the country ended the Paris Paralympics with a record 29 medals. Seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronzes.
Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, took the stage to cheers from the crowd. He celebrated the event’s success, while IPC President Andrew Parsons praised the Games’ performances.
The ceremony then introduced new members of the International Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council. This council represents athletes worldwide, conveying their concerns and interests to the movement’s leaders.
Then came a tribute to the volunteers of Paris 2024. More than 2,000 were in the stadium and received heavy applause.
Eight dynamic dancers, some specially-abled, led the performance to beats by DJ Cut Killer, highlighting the diversity in Breaking. Next, the Paralympic Anthem played while the French Army lowered the Paralympic flag. On stage, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined Andrew Parsons and Tony Estanguet for the flag handover to the U.S.
The final handover to Los Angeles featured the American national anthem performed by singer and actress Ali Stroker. Poets included violinist and Broadway composer Gaelynn Lea and rapper Garnet Silver-Hall, who addressed themes of dreaming, disability, and community. The highlight was a performance by multi-Grammy Award winner Anderson Paak.
During the song, written by Serge Gainsbourg from French poet Paul Verlaine, Amadou and Mariam sang in the Jardin des Tuileries. Aurellie Aubert, the French Paralympic Boccia champion extinguished the cauldron thus ending the Games.
Finally, the Stade de France experienced an extraordinary performance by 24 French electronic artists, led by Jean-Michel Jarre, known as the ‘Father of Electronic Music in France.’ The light show pulsed with energy, creating a disco-like atmosphere. And Paralympians joined the celebration. For the closing act, two-time medal-winning French para-cyclist Alexandre Leaute performed alongside French DJ and songwriter Martin Solveig.
It was indeed a befitting closing ceremony to the successful and enterprising spirit of the Paris Paralympics performance left in the minds of all who attended.
ANI
