Paris Paralympic Games Comes to Celebratory Conclusion

The Paris Paralympic Games came to a suitably celebratory conclusion with a festive closing ceremony at a soggy Stade de France on Sunday night.

Hailed as a massive success, Paris 2024 Organising Committee President Tony Estanguet summed these Games up perfectly in his closing ceremony speech as he told the assembled athletes: “Every time you competed, more people joined the party. Every time you succeeded, the intensity grew. With every wow, every cry, every heart you sent racing, you changed how people see sport and how they see disability.

“Thanks to you, everyone has seen what an inclusive world looks like.”

Paris 2024 Organising Committee President, Tony Estanguet

President of the International Olympic Committee Andrew Parsons took it even further, urging the fans that these Games should simply be a starting point.

“Free from barriers, Paralympians performed to their best. Through sport they showed what humanity can achieve when given an opportunity to succeed,” he said.

“You saw strength in difference. But now it is time for you and society to make a difference. Inspired by sport, I ask you all to be inspired with your commitment to change.

“Appreciation and applause must be followed by acceptance and action. Changed attitudes must lead to changed views. Words of praise must be replaced by words of conviction.

“Obstacles must become opportunities.”

President of the International Olympic Committee Andrew Parsons

For each of Team South Africa’s athletes taking part in Paris, obstacles have indeed become opportunities. 

For Simoné Kruger, who suffered a stroke while still in her mother’s womb, that meant overcoming the difficulties associated with a weaker right side of her body, building her strength and training six days a week to become the world’s greatest F38 discus thrower.

Kruger triumphed in spectacular fashion just a few nights ago when she added Paralympic gold and a Paralympic record to the two world titles and world record she already holds in the event.

“I think now, actually, knowing you’re the Paralympic champion, that’s big emotions to get over, but I’m enjoying everything,” said the elated 19-year-old after her medal ceremony the morning after the competition.

The pressure and expectation heaped on the talented teenager heading into these Games was intense, with her being hailed as one of the nation’s biggest medal hopes.

But she handled it all with grace and maturity way beyond her years to emerge victorious on the global stage.

The other South African woman to grace the podium in Paris was Louzanne Coetzee. 

Being born blind has never held Coetzee back, powering to Paralympic silver and bronze in Tokyo three years ago and then following that up with bronze in Paris in the T11 1500m with guide runner Estean Badenhorst.

But it was her gutsy performance in the T12 marathon with guide Claus Kempen that also stood out. Her focus had been chiefly on the 1500m and not on marathon training, but the 31-year-old endured an exceptionally tough race, just to be able to cross the finish line.

She finished in seventh place and well out of the medals but that didn’t matter.

Coetzee’s guide said afterwards, there were several times during the race when she could have pulled out, but she ran through the pain to reach the finish, saying afterwards she’d learned something new about herself: “That I can do it no matter what.” 

For those who didn’t claim medals at these Games, those types of lessons have been crucial. 

Kat Swanepoel was heading to Paris as a sure thing for several medals before the International Paralympic Committee changed her classification from an S4 to S5, meaning she would be racing against much tougher opponents. And while Swanepoel ultimately had to withdraw from several events because of a shoulder injury, she nevertheless toughed it out in the S5 50m backstroke heats, swimming half the race with a dislocated shoulder and still breaking an African record.

While that wouldn’t have been quite the same as the medal she was hoping for, it took immense character and will to achieve that.

Estanguet put that spirit into words in that same closing ceremony speech, saying: “The Paris 2024 Games are coming to an end, but their message is staying with us.

“Just like the athletes who have inspired us so much. Just like the men and women who pushed all the limits to make these Games a success,” said Estanguet. “Let’s keep trying, keep failing and keep getting back up again. Let’s keep doing, let’s keep believing. And above all… let’s keep daring.” 

Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: Hailed as a massive success, Paris 2024 Paralympic Games came to a suitably celebratory conclusion with a festive closing ceremony at a soggy Stade de France in the French capital on Sunday night, 9 September, 2024. Photo: Karien Jonckheere

Photo 2 Caption: Simoné Kruger added Paralympic gold and a Paralympic record to the two world titles and world record she already holds. Photo: Andries Kruger

Photo 3 Caption: Another SA woman on the podium was Louzanne Coetzee, who earned bronze in the T11 1500m with guide Estean Badenhorst. Photo: Roger Sedres/TeamSA