Paralympic Games End With A Bang

Paralympic Games End With A Bang

By: Jonathan Hays, Europe News, September 11, 2012

7.7 Million audience members stare at the sight of a lifetime

London’s 2012 Paralympics closed on September 9th with what was described as “a festival of flame.” With fireworks in the air and cheering crowds surrounding the stage, bands such as Coldplay, Rihanna, and Jay-z ended what stands as the worlds largest paralympic games.

Over the course of 11 days, 251 world records were broken. Overall, China achieved the largest medal count with 231 medals, 95 of which were gold. Russia managed to slip in with a close second of 102 medals-36 gold. Great Britain, having the home advantage, came in with a solid count of 120 medals, 34 of which gold.

At the closing ceremonies, paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and paralympic runner Jonnie Peacock put out the flame, that will be once again be lit in Rio during the 2016 Paralympics. Every country that participated in the London Paralympics got to take home one of the 200 copper pedals that made up the cauldron.

With the 2012 Paralympics drawn to a close, who knows what the next games will bring. New records, new hopes, and new dreams will surely be fulfilled, but we all will just have until the next games will come.

Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19541871 http://www.radiotimes.com/rt-service/image/render/Paralympic_Games_2012_Closing_Ceremony.jpg?imageUrl=/Media/paralympic-closing-ceremony-483920.jpg&width=580&height=327&quality=85&specialisation=tv&mode=crop