France Celebrates Olympic Spirit with Grand Parade on Champs-Élysées #paris #olympics #ceremony

The curtain came down on Paris' feel-good summer with a grand parade of French athletes on the Champs Elysées on Saturday after the country threw one last party to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Parade of Champions included 460 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including 120 Paris medalists.
The Parade of Champions included 460 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including 120 Paris medalists. About 70,000 spectators lined up on the parade’s route on the French capital’s famed avenue that ended on a ring-shaped stage around the Arc de Triomphe monument. Hundreds of the Games’ volunteers, Olympic and Paralympic representatives and city officials also attended.
France celebrated the end of the Paris Olympics with a grand parade on the Champs-Elysees, attended by tens of thousands. Medal-winning athletes, volunteers, and public sector workers were honored in a final celebration, followed by a star-studded concert. The French Olympic team, with 64 medals, embraced the nation’s pride and unity.
Tens of thousands of fans gathered on the famous Parisian avenue to watch the celebration, where French President Emmanuel Macron honored many Olympic medalists with the country’s top civilian awards. The parade celebrated not only the athletes but also the volunteers and public sector workers who made the Games possible.
PARIS (AP) — Paris has wrapped up its feel-good summer with a grand parade. French athletes celebrated the Olympic and Paralympic Games on the Champs Elysées on Saturday. The Parade of Champions featured 460 athletes, including 120 medalists. Around 70,000 spectators lined the parade route, ending at the Arc de Triomphe. Hundreds of volunteers, Olympic representatives and city officials also attended. Organizers aimed to match the excitement of the Games’ ceremonies. Thierry Reboul, the director of ceremonies, told French media it was called the “5th ceremony.” President Emmanuel Macron attended and honored 120 French Olympians. Macron’s celebration came amid political challenges following inconclusive legislative elections. He appointed Michel Barnier to form a new government.
The vibrant summer of sports in Paris concluded with a spectacular Parade of Champions on the Champs-Élysées on September 14, 2024, celebrating the achievements of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The event featured 460 athletes, including 120 medalists, and attracted around 70,000 spectators who lined the famous avenue, culminating at a circular stage near the Arc de Triomphe.
Organizers aimed to deliver a celebration comparable to the grand opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, with elements of surprise, emotion, and community spirit. "Among us, we call it the 5th ceremony," said Thierry Reboul, director of ceremonies.
French President Emmanuel Macron attended the event, honoring 120 Olympians with state distinctions, including renowned swimmer Léon Marchand and judoka Teddy Riner. The celebration unfolded against a backdrop of political challenges, as Macron faces a divided parliament following inconclusive legislative elections in July.
As the nation reflects on the success of the Games, which saw France secure a record 64 medals, including 16 golds, the parade served as a unifying moment for the country, emphasizing the Olympic spirit that has fostered national harmony. The festivities concluded with a concert featuring artists from the Games, marking a joyful farewell to an unforgettable summer in Paris.