Paris has officially handed over the baton to Los Angeles after a spectacular final act of the Paralympic Games, rounding off a thrilling summer of sport with a massive dance party at the Stade de France.
A summer sporting spectacle which opened under pouring rain on the River Seine concluded at a rain-soaked stadium lit up in the blue, white and red colours of the French national flag.Adieu, Paris
Much like the Olympics opening, the rain didn't dampen the spirits in the City of Light.
Top artists from the French electronic music scene led a massive party at the stadium in front of 4,400 athletes from 168 delegations.
That marked a memorable farewell to 11 days of action, with French singer Santa kicking off the ceremony by performing Johnny Hallyday's iconic song Vivre pour le Meilleur.
Tony Estanguet, the chief organiser of Paris 2024, said the Games had created a "historic summer" that would remain "etched in people's memories".
"With every one of its appearances, the Paralympic revolution gained more ground. This encounter between athletes and supporters will stay with us forever, because the emotions that we experienced brought us together," he said.
As the curtain fell in Paris, LA promised to be a great venue for 2028.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo passed the Paralympic flag to International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, who gave it to LA mayor Karen Bass.
Broadway star Ali Stroker then sang the American national anthem before a film was shown of a band performing on a Californian beach accompanied by skateboarders and wheelchair athletes.Hong Kong celebrates Para success
Swimmer Chan Yui-lam and shuttler Daniel Chan - both silver medallists - carried the Hong Kong, China flag as they led the SAR delegation into the stadium.
The delegation is coming home with three golds, four silvers and a bronze, marking its best Paralympic showing since London 2012.
For Team China, "flying fish" Jiang Yuyan and long jump champion Di Dongdong were the flag bearers.Including four more medals on the final day, the national team finished top of the medal table for the sixth consecutive Games, extending a feat which began in Athens 2004.China excellence on final day
Jin Hua brought home a silver medal in the men's marathon T54, a category reserved for wheelchair athletes.
He came back in one hour, 31 minutes and 19 seconds, after holding off Japan's Tomoki Suzuki, who was four seconds behind.
Swiss Paralympic star Marcel Hug romped to his seventh Paralympic gold at some three minutes in front.
In powerlifting, China's Zheng Feifei took her second successive silver in the women's up to 86kg.
The world record holder cleared 155kg on her second attempt, but failed to improve on that mark as Brazil's Tayana Medeiros won gold with 156kg.
Zheng's compatriot Deng Xuemei also claimed a silver in the women's over 86kg.
Nigeria's Folashade Oluwafemiayo won gold while refreshing both the world and Paralympic records.
Team China finished on the podium again in wheelchair basketball, as the women's team beat Canada 65-43 in the bronze medal match.
The nation bagged 94 golds, nearly double second-placed Britain's tally of 49, while the United States was third with 36.
