Paris bids ‘au revoir’ to Olympics

AFP | Paris

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

Paris bid a triumphant “au revoir” to the Olympics yesterday as the curtain came down on its widely praised staging of the global sporting spectacular.

A star-studded closing ceremony got under way in front of around 71,500 spectators at the Stade de France to crown an event that has been broadly acclaimed as one of the greatest editions of the Olympics ever held.

Around 270 artists and performers were scheduled to perform in the packed arena for an estimated 9,000 athletes who marched into the venue as the festivities got into full swing.

The opening segment of the ceremony festivities began with France’s swimming hero Leon Marchand -- winner of four gold medals at these Games -- gathering the Olympic flame from the cauldron in the centre of Paris to begin its journey to the Stade de France.

French rugby hero Antoine Dupont -- who led the host nation to a rugby sevens gold medal in one of the early highlights of the Games -- carried a tricolore flag into the Stade de France as partying athletes swarmed the field.

The glittering closing spectacle marks the beginning of the four-year countdown to the Los Angeles Olympics, The ceremony follows 17 days of frequently breathtaking sporting action set against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Chateau de Versailles.

In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony on the River Seine, the opening ceremony began as the sun set across the French capital.

The last day of sporting action saw the United States pip China for top spot in the battle for medals after the US women’s basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games.