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The world must continue the ethos of the Paralympic movement in everyday life, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Andrew Parsons told the 80,000-capacity crowd at the Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games on Sunday night.
The three blows by the ‘Coup de Baton’, which has started every session of the 22 sports during the past 11 days as a call to arms, was used at the Stade de France for the Closing Ceremony to signify the show was about to begin.
The stadium was bathed in the colours of the French flag – red, white and blue – as Andrew Feydy, a trumpeter with a disability, played the national anthem, La Marseillaise.
Parsons said there was a collective responsibility to use the momentum of the Games of the 17th Paralympiad in Paris to make the world more inclusive.
“What a Paralympic legacy this would be, not just for these athletes, but the world’s 1.3 billion persons with disabilities that they represent,” he said.
“Beyond 12 days of sport, we must break down the barriers that exist in society.”
He saluted France for hosting a magnificent Games for 169 countries and more than 4,400 athletes, who competed for 549 gold medal events.
“For a country famous for its fashion and food, France is now famous for its fans and its chocolate muffins,” Parsons said referring to the bakery treat popular in the dining hall of the Athlete Village.
“People of France, your passion and support has been incredible and magnificent.
“With spirit and pride, you made the last 12 days joyful and unforgettable.”
President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tony Estanguet, asked the crowd to give a standing ovation to the athletes to thank them for their 2024 legacy.
“You have launched the Paralympic movement and there is no turning back,” he said.
Australia’s double gold medallists Lauren Parker (triathlon, road cycling) and James Turner (100m, 400m athletics) were the Closing Ceremony flag bearers. Parker notably became the first Australian since 1968 to win gold in two different sports at the same Games.
Australia finished ninth on the medal table with 63 medals: 18 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze.
The handover to Los Angeles, host city of the 2028 Games, featured the city’s Mayor Karen Bass receiving the IPC flag from the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, with Tony Award-winning actor Ali Stroker singing the American national anthem.
Artist Garnett Silver-Hall then performed a freestyle rap titled ‘California Dreaming’ before the Paralympic flame was extinguished.
By: Margie McDonald, Gennie Sheer, Paralympics Australia
Published: 9 September 2024
