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Paralympics draws to a close, China finish top of medals table

Sports Scene

A view of the Paralympics Closing Ceremony in Paris, France, September 8, 2024. /CFP
A view of the Paralympics Closing Ceremony in Paris, France, September 8, 2024. /CFP

A view of the Paralympics Closing Ceremony in Paris, France, September 8, 2024. /CFP

This year's Paralympics came to an end at the Stade de France in Paris with Sunday's opening ceremony bringing a closure to a busy summer of sport in the French capital.

As the stadium was lit up in the blue, white and red colors of the French flag, a trumpet player played the national anthem and Paralympic flagbearers made their way into the stadium to the theme from the film Chariots of Fire.

China finished top of the medals table in Paris, as they have at every Paralympics since Athens in 2004. Great Britain came second with the USA in third.

President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet and International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons addressed the crowd and officially ended that busy summer of action in Paris. The next Paralympics will take place in Los Angeles in 2028 and during the official handover, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo passed the Paralympic flag to Parsons, who gave it to Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass.

The Paralympic flame and cauldron were extinguished before a concert featuring the best of French electronic music capped off proceedings.

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