French Olympic and Paralympic athletes enjoy 'golden' send-off in Paris

rfi

Sat, 14 Sept 2024, 10:57 am·1-min read

France bid a final and reluctant farewell to the Paris Olympics on Saturday with a parade on the Champs-Elysees followed by an evening concert. Many of France's medal winners were presented with the country's top award, the Legion d'Honneur, by President Emmanuel Macron.

Around 300 French athletes and parathletes took part in the afternoon parade which featured more nearly 10,000 people in total, including volunteers and public sector workers such as garbage collectors.

It was the ultimate way to celebrate the French athletes who took part in the Olympics and Paralympics, deemed a stunning success by Committee President Tony Estanguet and international officials.

The 46-year-old said earlier this week that he "still can't quite believe that it's over."

Estanguet said that the whole period would remain "etched in people's memories".

"This summer, France had a date with history, and the country showed up," he said.

French organisers revel in success of 'benchmark' Paris Paralympics

After months of gloom and self-doubt in the run-up to the start of the Olympics on 26 July, Paris and the country at large threw themselves into the spirit of the Games, embracing new national sporting heroes.

"Saying thanks, not just to the athletes but to everyone who made these games magic, I think it's fabulous," said France's most-decorated track athlete, Marie-Jose Perec, who lit the cauldron at the start of the Games on 26 July.

(with AFP)