PARIS, Sep 14 (V7N) – France will officially close the Paris Olympics with a grand parade on the Champs-Elysees on Saturday, followed by a concert featuring artists from the opening and closing ceremonies. This event, organized at the request of President Emmanuel Macron, will celebrate France’s successful summer of sport and honor its Olympic heroes.

Macron is set to award the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest honor, to several of the nation’s medalists. Approximately 4,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure safety, marking one final test for security forces, who received widespread praise for keeping the 12 million Olympic spectators safe throughout the Games.

Demand for the event is high, with around 70,000 people applying for free tickets to witness the parade of athletes, volunteers, and public workers, all set against the backdrop of the Arc de Triomphe.

"We’re thrilled to offer one more special moment to celebrate the athletes of Team France in such an iconic setting," said Tony Estanguet, the chief organizer, on Friday. "We aim to conclude this Olympic journey in the most memorable way possible."

France’s Olympic team concluded the Games with a record-breaking 64 medals, 16 of them gold, placing fifth overall. The Paralympic Games, which followed from August 28 to September 8, were also praised, with International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons calling them "the most spectacular ever."

The closing ceremony will feature performances from prominent artists, including Chris (formerly Christine & the Queens), who performed at the Paralympics’ opening ceremony, and Malian duo Amadou & Mariam. Approximately 300 French athletes and para-athletes will be part of the parade, alongside 7,000-8,000 participants, including volunteers and public sector workers.

Games as a Moment of Unity and Escape

The Paris Olympics sparked a renewed sense of national pride, particularly after months of political turmoil and uncertainty. In the lead-up to the Games, many in France were mired in a sense of gloom, worsened by the political instability following snap parliamentary elections in June that resulted in a hung parliament.

However, the Olympics brought a rare moment of unity, with the nation rallying behind new sporting heroes like swimmer Leon Marchand. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo referred to the Games as an "enchanted period" and urged citizens not to fall back into the "sad passions" of daily life.

President Macron, eager to capture the positive momentum, announced plans for an annual "national day of sport," inspired by the Olympics, to be held every year on September 14. "We need to maintain the spirit of the Games and the unity it brought," Macron told Le Parisien. "This day would bring people together through sports, in schools, streets, and dedicated sports centers."

As France celebrates the end of the Games, analysts believe the unifying effects may not last long, but for now, the nation will bask in the Olympic afterglow.

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