2024-09-15 07:33:04
NEWS This Saturday at the end of the afternoon, thousands of spectators gathered in “the most beautiful way in the world” to attend the great parade of athletes and thus come to end the Paris Olympiad.
“This is a chance to enjoy the Games one last time.” You are full of it “JO-stalgie” that Laetitia, Philippe and their three daughters came to attend the “Champions of Champions” on the Champs-Élysées on Saturday evening. After the enchanted interlude of the Olympics and Paralympics, Paris played overtime with a huge parade on “the most beautiful road in the world”, mixing volunteers, workers and even athletes.
Thierry Reboul, the creative director of Paris 2024, has thought big, describing this parade as “Fifth Festival of the Games” . We were actually treated to a variety of awards at the four festivals that mark the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Starting with a taxi of dozens of Phryges, seen during the opening of the Paras, wandering around before the start of the parade. Or those masked fire hands and horsemen, the main character in the opening of the Games on the Seine, who launched the parade around 4 pm by striking three shots. Like what we do before each session of the Games. Or even the soundtrack, featuring some hits from the Paris Olympiad: “I love you”, “Midnight City” M83, “Letter to France”…
“He finished the games in style”Isilde, 13 years old, said with her two sisters and her parents. These are the three little girls who insisted on coming to watch the championships, and were able to admire them during the events. Especially sprinter Timothée Adolphe, Paralympic Vice-champion in 100m, whose family was able to see him running at the Stade de France. “We had Leon Marchand will he be there?”asks his little sister Maxime, 11 years old. Many spectators on the Champs this cold Saturday were hoping to see the new star of swimming and French sports in general, he won four gold medals in the Olympics.
Grégoire, Axelle, and their three daughters Isilde, Maxime and Gabrielle want to “end the games in style”.
Julien Da Sois / Le Figaro
Read againBlue-white-red pictures of the Olympic parade on the Champs-Elysées
A catch-up session for some
But before the athletes, the organizers of the parade have planned to honor all those without whom the Games could not have existed. After the introduction of Phryges, these mascots mocked and then bowed, some 2000 volunteers were first to march, which was applauded by everyone. We also had the opportunity to see the Paris 2024 teams, with the head of the organizing committee Tony Estanguet at their head. “Tony, Tony”cried the crowd as the three-time Olympic canoe champion and the first architect of these successful Games passed. But also former great French champion, such as Marie-Josée Pérec, lighter of the Olympic fire with Teddy Riner. A group of 300 supporters also set the mood on the 280-meter “cawalk” installed on the Champs-Élysées for the event, launching songs to which everyone responded with joy.
The Phryges put on a show on a 280 meter long “cawalk” laid out on a Parisian street.
Julien Da Sois / Le Figaro
For some viewers, this parade is a bit of a catch-up. “We didn’t take advantage of the Games, and we regret it”confides Laetitia, even living in the capital. “We didn’t see any games in real life, so we made up for it today by coming to enjoy the last minutes of the Games”smiles Delphine, 27, who comes from Soissons, in the Aisne, with a small group that mixes friends and family. Even if you almost fell at the last moment, because of a small hiccup in sending the necessary QR Codes to enter the site. Like them, some travel a long way to attend a sporting event. Like Bernard, 56, and his children, who took the train early Saturday morning from Picardy to take advantage of this opportunity “A real, unique moment”. “It’s beautiful to see France united”said, live, fifty-year-old, dressed in blue-white-red from head to toe.
Cécile, Vincent, Delphine and Manon came especially from the Aisne to “see the French champions”.
Julien Da Sois / Le Figaro
It is even more so at the time of the long-awaited appearance of French athletes on the great white podium. Carrying the flags that were freely distributed in all directions, the crowd erupted when they saw, around 5:15 pm, some 300 tricolor athletes, dressed all in white, heading towards the road. It was the Paralympic boccia champion, Aurélie Aubert, who led the happy delegation. The audience chanted the first names of Antoine Dupont and Léon Marchand. Famous exception among sportsmen: Teddy Riner. He finally arrived in short strides a few minutes later, in a dark blue dress, to the delight of the fans. Olas are thrown by the athletes, before a Marseillaise sung at the top of their lungs by athletes and spectators alike. But the evening is far from over. A few minutes later, the French medalists of the Games will be decorated on the Place de l’Etoile, in front of Emmanuel Macron, before a special concert around the Arc de Triomphe from 9 pm.
Teddy Riner arrived a short distance behind all the representatives of French athletes.
Julien Da Sois / Le Figaro
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