The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games drew to a close last night today with the closing ceremony at the Stade de France.
Ellen Keane and Michael Murphy carries the flag for Team Ireland after an emotionally playing of the Marseillaise on a solo trumpet in front of a crowd in the stadium of 64,000.
It rained on the ceremony, as it had for the opening of the Olympics back in late July.
In between though Paris put on a magnificent sporting feast, one that matched if not exceeded that of London and which sets a high bar for Los Angeles in four years time.
There really is no other sporting event that comes close in terms of international appeal, friendship and diversity.
The Paralympic Games was incredibly well supported with 2.4 million of the 2.8 million available tickets sold and venues packed with supporters from across france and around the world.
Irish athletes produced many stunning performances delivering 6 medals, multiple personal best performances and national records across 9 sports.
In total there was one Gold, Three silver and two Bronze medals for Team Ireland, from 35 athletes on the plane, as well as six personal bests, five national records one season’s best and one European record.
Katie George Dunlevy won Gold with Linda Kelly in the Time Trial, Silver with Eve McCrystal on the track and Bronze with Kelly again in the Road Race.
Róisín Ní Ríain took Silver and Bronze in the swimming pool at La Defense Arena and Orla Comerford won Bronze in the 100 metres final at the Stade de France, to complete a brilliant Games for women with a visual impairment.
We will be talking to Vision Sports Ireland about this in the coming weeks.
Ireland’s last athletes in action were Mary Fitzgerald in the Shot Putt and Britney Arendse, known as ‘Spartacus’ who broke her own PB three times in the para weightlifting to finish fourth overall.
“It has been an agonising wait to compete, I was ready a week ago and now I’m ready to spend some time with my family and friends. I am hugely grateful to my other Team Ireland athletes, family and friends who are all her today to cheer me on. The noise from the Irish fans in the crowds really encouraged me.”
The team will return to Dublin airport on EI525 landing at 14:20 pm today, Monday 9th to what is expected to be a rapturous welcome following their exploits in Paris.
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