VIDEOS. The 10 sequences to remember from the parade of French Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the Champs-Elysées

Several hundred Olympic and Paralympic athletes paraded together on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. In front of more than 70,000 people, Léon Marchand, Teddy Riner and the others received the honors of the Republic.

One last party to thrill. The Olympic and Paralympic athletes paraded on the Champs-Élysées on Saturday, September 14 to share a final moment with the French public and prolong the pleasure. After the successful summer of the Paris Games, several hundred French athletes responded to the call, in front of 70,000 people, for this celebration wanted by Emmanuel Macron. Léon Marchand, Teddy Riner, Alexis Hanquinquant, Aurélie Aubert, boccia gold medalist, and Antoine Dupont took communion, before a giant concert at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe. Franceinfo summarizes the 10 sequences to remember.

The Masked Torchbearer and the Silver Horsewoman Lead the Parade

Now essential characters of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the masked torchbearer and the silver horsewoman who floated on the Seine during the opening ceremony kicked off the event. The horsewoman handed the masked torchbearer the famous baton to strike the three knocks, continuing the tradition established before each event. The blue-white-red fireworks display, which launched the opening ceremony on the Pont d’Austerlitz, this time took place around the Arc de Triomphe.

The Phryges offer themselves a final parade on the catwalk

They too were entitled to a final lap. Before returning to the IOC, which will take over the rights on December 31, the decorated Phryges from the Paralympic closing ceremony paraded on the stage set up on the Champs Élysées. Mocked before the Games, these mascots have become a phenomenon with the public. Not all of them were present on the catwalk, since there were about thirty Olympic Phryges costumes and about twenty Paralympic Phryges.

Olympic and Paralympic athletes march together

The convoy of athletes went up the Champs-Élysées. Guided by Paralympic athletes, such as Aurélie Aubert and former wheelchair tennis player Michaël Jeremiasz, they headed towards the Arc de Triomphe. The 300 or so athletes were a mix of Olympic, Paralympic, medal-winning and non-medal-winning athletes and were able to celebrate with the public. Some great people were present: Léon Marchand, brothers Alex and Kilian Portal, brothers Ugo and Lucas Didier, brothers Alexis and Félix Lebrun, rugby player Antoine Dupont, gold medal-winning sabre fencer Manon Apithy-Brunet. To the sound of the songs that resonated during the Olympic fortnights (Midnight Cityof M83, or Qthat I love youby Johnny Hallyday), the procession took full advantage of the party.

Teddy Riner’s arrival in costume

The judoka, who lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony, arrived a few minutes late and in costume. In a small stride, he went up the catwalk before thanking the crowd present in large numbers: “Thank you for these Games. Thank you, it was incredible. And being here with you, it makes us feel on cloud nine.” The five-time Olympic winner was given a long round of applause by the crowd.

The athletes and the public sing the Marseillaise

It was sung a lot during the Olympic and Paralympic fortnights. It was impossible not to hear it during this ceremony. On the catwalk, the speaker launched a Marseillaise which was taken up, in chorus, by the athletes and the public.

The French performances recounted by Emmanuel Macron

Before being decorated, the Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as well as the public, were able to relive the exploits and emotions of the French exploits. The voiceover is that of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. He notably listed the great moments of these Olympic and Paralympic Games: “Frédéric Villeroux’s penalty”, “Antoine Dupont’s try”…

Medal-winning athletes decorated by the Republic

It was the final podium for 118 Olympic and Paralympic medallists. They received the medals of the Republic in front of 70,000 spectators on the Place de l’Etoile. The silver and bronze medalists received the National Order of Merit medal, while the Olympic or Paralympic champions were elevated to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor. Many personalities from sports (Marie-Josée Pérec, Olympic table tennis vice-champion Jean-Philippe Gatien, Didier Deschamps) or politics (Michel Barnier, Anne Hildalgo) presented the distinctions. Emmanuel Macron notably decorated Léon Marchand, the bronze medalist in para table tennis, Flora Vautier, and the Olympic paratriathlon champion, Alexis Hanquinquant.

Rugby 7s players put on a show

One last dance for the rugby players. After having entertained the public at the Stade de France or the Club France, the rugby 7 players put on a show at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe by performing their famous choreography.

Teddy Riner made Commander of the National Order of Merit

The costume worn by Teddy Riner therefore had an explanation. You had to be dressed to the nines to receive the title of Commander of the National Order of Merit from Emmanuel Macron. The five-time Olympic champion had already obtained the titles of knight and officer of the Legion of Honor, after the London and Tokyo Olympics. He was already a giant, superlatives are starting to run out.

Axelle Saint-Cirel concludes the ceremony with an emotional Marseillaise

She had dazzled the opening ceremony. Mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel once again performed the French anthem in front of the Arc de Triomphe to close the ceremony. The opera singer, holding the tricolour flag, sang the Marseillaise one last time to close the Olympic book in France.