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Today marks the final chapter of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, with the Closing Ceremony set to bring an exciting conclusion to the Games. On Day 11, athletes will vie for the last medals in four key sports: Para athletics, Para powerlifting, Para canoe, and wheelchair basketball. The day will culminate in a grand Closing Ceremony, celebrating the achievements of over 4,400 athletes.
Para Athletics: Marathon Finals
The Para athletics segment, the largest of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, concludes with the marathon events. Four marathons will be held today, featuring some of the most elite athletes in the sport.
Swiss wheelchair racing stars Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner are the ones to watch in the men’s and women’s marathon T54 events, respectively. Hug, known as the “Swiss Silver Bullet,” will be striving for gold, while Debrunner aims to add another victory to her impressive career. Additionally, Japan’s Misato Michishita will compete to defend her gold medal from Tokyo 2020 in the women’s marathon T12.
The marathon course will take athletes through notable Paris landmarks, starting in Seine-Saint-Denis and passing the Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Elysées, and the Arc de Triomphe, before finishing in front of the Esplanades des Invalides.
Full Para Athletics Programme
Wheelchair Basketball: Netherlands vs. USA
In wheelchair basketball, the Netherlands and the USA will battle it out for gold at the Bercy Arena. The Netherlands, the defending Paralympic champions, remain undefeated in Paris and will look to maintain their perfect record. The USA, aiming for their first gold since Rio 2016, will be a formidable opponent. Earlier in the tournament, the Netherlands defeated the USA 69-56, setting the stage for an intense final.
China and Canada will compete for the bronze medal earlier in the day, with Canada hoping for their first Paralympic podium finish since Athens 2004.
Full Wheelchair Basketball Programme
Para Canoe and Para Powerlifting: Final Medal Events
Day 11 will also see the final medals awarded in Para canoe and Para powerlifting. At the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium, five Para canoe finals will determine the top athletes in the sport. Meanwhile, La Chapelle Arena will host four Para powerlifting finals, featuring some of the best lifters in the world.
Athletes to watch include Folashade Oluwafemiayo of Nigeria, who holds the world record of 165kg in the women’s over 86kg division. Oluwafemiayo will be aiming for her third Paralympic medal today.
Full Para Canoe Programme
Full Para Powerlifting Programme
Closing Ceremony: A “Giant Party”
The Stade de France, which hosted the track and field events during the Games, will be the venue for the Closing Ceremony. Promised to be a “giant party,” the ceremony will feature performances by leading French electronic music artists and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the athletes.
The event will also mark the handover of the Paralympic flag to Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Paralympic Games. For those who enjoyed the spectacular Opening Ceremony on August 28, the Closing Ceremony promises to be an unforgettable conclusion to Paris 2024.
As Paris 2024 draws to a close, today's events and the Closing Ceremony will be a fitting tribute to an extraordinary celebration of athletic excellence and international camaraderie.
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