With a final “party” with electro sounds at the Stade de France, Paris definitively closes its first Paralympic Games this Sunday, September 8. These Games are ” the most beautiful in history ” according to its actors, who hope to leave a legacy regarding the way in which disability is viewed and taken into consideration.
What you need to remember:
- There France won 75 medals and thus reached the Top 8, in line with the initial objective. France exceeds the number of medals obtained at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
In track cycling, she won the individual pursuit despite not being the favourite, Marie Patouillet36, has erased eight years without a Paralympic gold medal for a French woman.
The French delegation’s flag bearers for the closing ceremony are: Aurélie Aubert, Olympic champion in boccia in the BC1 category, and Tanguy de la Forest, gold medalist in the 10-meter prone rifle shooting R5-SH2 and silver medalist in the 10-meter standing rifle shooting R5-SH2.
Find the medal table in clicking on this link
You can follow this ceremony in our special edition on RFI.
Times are given in Universal Time (UT).
7:08 p.m.: Tony Estanguet, president of COJOP, speaks at the Stade de France
7:04 p.m.: The chef de mission of the French team, Michaël Jérémiasz, is now keen to see the positive effect of these Games on the daily lives of people with disabilities.
As with the Olympic Games, the fervour has taken over many competition sites, to the great delight of the athletes. The London Paralympic Games were a reference in this area until now, but that is no longer the case, believes Michaël Jérémiasz.
Michaël Jérémiasz, the French team’s head of mission: “We have a lot of work to do” regarding global accessibility
7:03 p.m.: The French flag bearers bring up the rear of the delegations.
The French flag bearers are Aurélie Aubert, Olympic champion in boccia in the BC1 category, and Tanguy de la Forest, gold medalist in the 10-meter prone rifle shooting R5-SH2 and silver medalist in the 10-meter standing rifle shooting R5-SH2.
6:56 p.m.: The delegations continue to parade
169 delegations participated in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, representing 168 National Paralympic Committees, in addition to a Paralympic Refugee Team comprising 8 athletes.
6:47 p.m.: The athletes are welcomed by around sixty musicians from the Music of the Republican Guard.
Forming a guard of honor, the musicians perform The Champs Elysees by Joe Dassin.
6:44 p.m.: The flags of the participating nations and the Refugee Paralympic Team enter the Stade de France.
Eritrea, Kiribati and Kosovo participated in the Paralympic Games for the first time in their history.
6:41 p.m.: The French flag is raised to the sound of La Marseillaise, the French national anthem performed by trumpeter André Feydy.
6:39 p.m.: In the official stand of the Stade de France, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons, are introduced.
6:38 p.m.: Paradethe anthem of the Paris 2024 Games composed by Victor le Masne, is played to launch the celebration of all the athletes who participated in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
6:33 p.m.: The final flight of the Olympic cauldron is cancelled due to weather conditions.
The final flight of the Olympic cauldron over the Tuileries Gardens in Paris on Sunday evening, which was to coincide with the start of the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games, was cancelled due to weather conditions, according to a message released on site by the organisers.
6:30 p.m.: The ceremony has just begun with the singer Santa who sings Live for the best by Johnny Halliday, immortal icon of French rock
She embodies one of the new faces of French song, like Zaho de Sagazan, invited to close the Olympic Games, or Juliette Armanet, who sang at the opening of the Olympic Games.
6:28 p.m.: The Stade de France, decked out in purple, ready to host the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games
6:25 p.m.: The athletes arrive at the Stade de France
6:20 p.m.: Among the exploits that have thrilled these Games: France’s historic victory in blind football against Argentina
Also readParalympic Games: France wins historic blind football title against Argentina
6:17 p.m.: China has once again topped the medal table
Chinese athletes won 94 gold medals, twice as many as Great Britain, who finished second ahead of the United States. In Paris, China had the largest delegation with 284 athletes, competing in 20 out of a possible 22 disciplines. The Chinese won 22 gold medals in para-swimming, 21 in para-athletics and 11 in para-table tennis.
Also readParalympics 2024: Why China is once again far ahead in the medal table
6:08 p.m.: While waiting for the ceremony to begin, you can listen or re-listen to the Radio Jeux Internationale program. On the program: all the results from this Sunday, September 8!
Also listen toJOP 2024: results and analysis of Sunday September 8
6:05 p.m.: The majestic ceremony is expected to begin at 6:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.: Welcome everyone to this live broadcast to follow the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Welcome to this live dedicated to the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We will be delighted to have you with us throughout the evening. You can also follow the festivities live on RFI antenna.
Director Thomas Joly promises a “nightclub” version of the Stade de France. After a final parade of athletes, the extinguishing of the cauldron, speeches and the handover with Los Angeles, 24 DJs are expected to take the stage to offer the 60,000 spectators a condensed version of electronic music.
Also read2024 Paralympic Medal Table