The 17th Paralympic Games in Paris concluded on Sunday evening, with two outstanding Greek swimmers, gold medalist Alexandra Stamatopoulou and silver medalist Antonis Tsapatakis, proudly raising the Greek flag during the Closing Ceremony at Stade de France, accompanied by torrential rain.
The two Greek champions not only achieved significant athletic accomplishments but also demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship. They were joined by their coaches, Michalis Nikopoulos and Chrysafis Vaggelakakis, representing the entire Greek delegation—one of the most successful teams in the history of the Paralympic Games.
For 12 days, all Greeks embraced their efforts, celebrating, rejoicing, shedding tears, and realising that Greece boasts exceptional athletes in Paralympic sports.
The President of “Paris 2024,” Tony Estanguet, celebrated what he called “a historic summer,” stating, “the memory of which will remain etched within us,” during the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
“This was the summer when people came together, a summer when France was joyous, a summer when France had a rendezvous with history and responded,” added the President of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Closing Ceremony of the Paris Paralympic Games opened on Sunday with a tribute to Johnny Hallyday, who symbolized the Olympic summer in Paris through a symphonic rendition of his song “Living for the Best,” performed by rising star SANTA.
The 31-year-old singer, dressed in an oversized khaki and black hooded gown, made this rock “anthem to life” resonate within the Stade de France.
This was followed by Hallyday’s hit “Que je t’aime,” which was dedicated to the 45,000 volunteers who were mobilized during the Games. This song had also been chosen to accompany the French delegation during the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games on August 28 at Place de la Concorde.