The Paris fever doesn’t seem to end! While it’s been over a month since the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics, fans are yet to come back to reality from the spectacle that the tournament was. While a long list of controversial moments cast a shadow on the quadrennial event, there’s no way to argue against the fact that the 33rd Games was a thrilling affair for all sports fans worldwide. And its impact on France as a nation also cannot be overstated either.

In the months leading up to the Olympics, several issues came under the limelight, making fans raise their eyebrows. However, despite the debates, the Games went ahead and came to an end with a bang. Irrespective of how the world saw the 2024 Olympics, it’s evident that the people of Paris didn’t have two thoughts about rallying for its cause. And they proved it again.

One last round of applause for the Paris Olympics

On Saturday, September 14, the French capital took to the streets to mark the culmination of the thriller that was the Paris Games. An article by the New York Times from the same date elaborates on the festivities that took over the iconic city yesterday. The main highlight of the day was the parade to celebrate the athletes who represented the host nation on the grandest stage. An outdoor concert around the Arc de Triomphe was the perfect send-off to the Games that acted as a channel for the attendees to express their bittersweet emotions.

300 French Olympic and Paralympic stars paraded up the Champs-Élysées as the crowds sang the French national anthem with gusto. Iconic sports figures and even French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed state honors on the 64 Olympians and 75 Paralympians who brought medals to the country at the Paris Olympics and the Paris Paralympics respectively. As the Olympic Cauldron took flight for one last time, the opening and closing ceremonies performers gathered on a ring-shaped stage around the Arc de Triomphe to revel in the cheers of the fans.

“I wanted to relive these moments,” said Mustapha Belfodil, one of the attendees in the crowd, reflecting the sentiments of the people at the unofficial Olympics closing party from Saturday. While the day was filled with jubilation and glee, it shouldn’t be forgotten that there were things that caused severe ruckus among the the participants and the fans alike.

A stellar journey, albeit a bumpy road

One of the biggest things that stunned fans was learning that the Parisian authorities embarked on an ambitious project to clean the Seine River in order to host the open water swimming events. Many argued that the ban on swimming in the Seine has been around for a century for reason, but the people in charge of the project assured that no such issues would affect the swimming stars who would be visiting Paris from around the world. But that wasn’t half of the issues that took the participants by surprise when they landed in the City of Love.

The shambling living conditions of the Olympic Village made many stars move out of their allotted accommodation and find a place that suited their requirements better. Allegations of poor food and the inexistence of air-conditioning facilities rattled communities and marred the reputation of the prestigious event. And who can forget the fiasco that involved the cardboard beds? Athletes from every country went ahead to give their public reviews of the alleged “anti-s–” beds and most of these evaluations didn’t make the furniture look good.

If these weren’t enough, the Opening Ceremony also attracted significant flak from religious groups from all around the world for its take on Biblical lore. And yet, when Philippe Katerine (the person who portrayed the Blue Smurf in the Opening Ceremonies) was spotted at yesterday’s ceremony, fans couldn’t help but greet him with a broad grin. Tell us your favorite part from the final Olympic event of 2024 with a comment below!