Paris gives the Paralympics an unforgettable farewell | Paralympic Games Paris 2024

With an explosion of fireworks, laser beams, breakdancing and a booming set from the giants of French electronic music, France bid farewell to the Paralympic Games on Sunday evening with the biggest party in its history.

The feel-good summer of sporting success in Paris had left the crowds hoarse with cheering and forever changed the nation's attitude to sport and disability. Now Parisians were deeply saddened to say goodbye to it all.

But France wanted one last wild night of celebration, and so the Stade de France in Saint-Denis was transformed into a huge electronic dance party, with some of the world's best Paralympic athletes dancing a polonaise around the stadium on the athletics track where records had been broken days before.

The organizers of the Paris Games said that with the closing ceremony of the Paralympics they wanted to “show that we know how to party” – as if anyone still doubted that the French capital likes to let off steam.

Jean-Michel Jarre, France's godfather of synthesizers and stadium laser shows, led a wild performance of French electro-dance amid flashing light shows, hundreds of crisscrossing laser beams and walls of flames on the stage. The “French Touch” spectacle reached its climax when star DJ Martin Solveig played “One More Time” by Daft Punk, on a stage filled with dancing para-athletes, giant mascots in sequin skirts and a volley of hundreds of fireworks.

Earlier, the military band of the French Republican Guard played “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor while para-athletes paraded with the flags of their countries.

In a nod to the controversial decision to introduce breakdancing at the Olympic Games, Paris also bid farewell with a breathtaking breakdancing performance by many disabled dancers that took the breath away of the watching para-athletes.

The big surprise of the evening – and one of the best musical performances – was the blind Malian singers Amadou and Mariam, who offered a breathtaking rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's hymn of farewell. The Suisse Venue Terrible what The Men Vaisat the foot of the balloon-borne Paralympic flame just as it was extinguished. Another chilling moment was a new interpretation of the French national anthem. Of all the many versions of the Marseillaise played since the Olympics began in July, the one on Sunday night was surely the most moving: a solo musical performance by the celebrated disabled French trumpeter André Feydy.

“The most spectacular Paralympic Games ever,” said Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, at the end of 12 exciting days in Paris, during which China topped the medal table, followed by Great Britain in second and the USA in third. At the same time, Los Angeles will take over the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.

With more countries participating than ever before, a record 169 delegations, more women and more global coverage, Paris 2024 has set a new benchmark for the Paralympic Games, Parsons said. He thanked French spectators for their huge turnout and overwhelming support. “Although France is famous for its fashion and food, it is now famous for its fans,” he said to loud roars from more than 60,000 spectators at the Stade de France. Now is the time for “recognition and applause to be followed by acceptance and action,” he said. It is time to break down societal barriers off the field – from education to employment to government and entertainment.

For French organisers, the celebration was all the more joyous when you consider the final ticket numbers. Paris 2024 sold a record 12 million tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games combined, beating the previous record set by London 2012. Of these, 9.5 million tickets were sold for the Paris Olympics and 2.5 million for the Paris Paralympics. In 2012, organisers in London had set the record for the Paralympics with 2.7 million tickets sold, but only 8.2 million were sold for the Olympics.

Much like the torrential rain that drenched the Olympic Games opening ceremony on the Seine in July, the skies opened at the end of the Paralympics and the athletes were drenched, dancing bravely to the music as flames burst into the sky from the stage, adding warmth to the event.

The presentation of decades of French dance and electronica music – one of France’s greatest cultural exports – ranged from Étienne de Crécy to Kavinsky, Kittin and Kungs Thousands of spectators danced in their seats. It was a fitting farewell to Paris' efforts to bring younger spectators to the Paralympics.

Ali Stroker, the first actor to perform on a Broadway stage in a wheelchair, sang the US national anthem as Paris turned the stage over to Los Angeles 2028.

Tony Estanguet, three-time Olympic canoe champion and chief organizer of the Paris Olympic Games, said the Paris Paralympics “made us better people.”

He said the Paralympics are about “extraordinary encounters that leave a lasting mark” and no one in France wants them to end.

He told the Paralympians gathered in the stadium: “Thanks to you, everyone has seen what an inclusive world looks like. You have started the Paralympic revolution and now there is no turning back.”