China tops medal table as Paris 2024 Paralympics ends with star-studded concert: Video
The Paris 2024 Paralympics ended on Sunday, September 8, with a lively closing ceremony at the Stade de France, featuring a major electronic music concert.
Despite rainy weather, the event celebrated the end of a memorable summer of sports in Paris, following the Olympics earlier this year.
Tony Estanguet, the chief organiser for Paris 2024, hailed the past six weeks as a "historic summer" for France, noting how the Games helped heal recent political divisions. "This summer will remain etched in people's memories," Estanguet was quoted by AFP.
The ceremony included the extinguishing of the Paralympic flame and a high-energy concert with performances by French electronic music legends Jean-Michel Jarre, Cassius, Busy P, and Kungs. DJ Martin Solveig wrapped up the night with hits like "Hello" and Daft Punk’s "One More Time."
China led the medal standings with 94 gold medals. Great Britain finished second with 49 golds, while the USA secured third place with 36. Ukraine placed seventh with 22 golds, and France ended eighth with 19 golds.
On the final day, Switzerland won both wheelchair marathons, with Catherine Debrunner triumphing in the women’s race and Marcel Hug in the men’s. The Netherlands retained their women’s wheelchair basketball title with a 63-49 win over the USA. The American women, last champions in Rio 2016, will have to wait until Los Angeles 2028 for their next chance.
