End of Olympic escapism for gloomy France

Observers see signs country is moving on from sport-inspired break from reality

- 

The end of the widely hailed 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris last weekend will be greeted with pride and relief, as well as trepidation, in a country in the throes of a deep political crisis.

After months of gloom and selfdoubt in the run-up to the start of the Olympic Games on July 26, Paris and the country at large threw themselves into the spirit of the Games, embracing new national sporting heroes along the way.

The closing ceremony for the Paralympics on Sept 8, when the Olympic flame was extinguished for a final time, marked the end of six weeks of thrilling sport and almost flawless organisation that produced a sense of escapism from the country's divisions and woes.

"The idea is to finish with a huge party that will prevent the tears of those who might be saying to themselves, 'Damn it, it is all finished", chief organiser Tony Estanguet said ahead of a ceremony that will see the national stadium turn into a giant nightclub.

"We are going to have a party, and then on Monday, maybe we will be disappointed because it really will be all over," he added.

"I think that we will all feel a sense of joy, pride; the impression that something is ending that has enabled us to feel good together and to show to the world how we can enjoy ourselves," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told reporters on Sept 6.