Tokyo 2021 is already over. After 17 days of Olympic Games, the Blues, who brought home 33 medals from the Japanese capital, returned to France this Monday, August 9. The opportunity to continue the party in Paris, host city of the next Games in 2024.
Back in pictures on this festive day.
The return of the heroes
The last French athletes present in Tokyo returned on Monday August 9, the day after the closing of the Olympic Games. At the airport, they were greeted by the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
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The Olympic medalists return to France, here at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport on August 9. © STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP
Among these athletes, volleyball players, handball players, and handball players in particular, three teams crowned Olympic champions during the last weekend of competition. They sang a beautiful Marseillaise a cappellawhen they get off the plane.
?????? WHAT HAPPINESS, WHAT PRIDE!
Barely arrived on French soil, our heroes of the last Olympic weekend sing the Marseillaise together.#Olympic Games #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/qR6GC7p0CH
– francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 9, 2021
The Olympic flag in Paris
The official flag of the Olympic Games also landed in Paris. The mayor of the capital Anne Hidalgo and Tony Estanguet raised the flag together at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport.
?? Here it is ! The official flag of the Olympic Games is in France, for the next 3 years
???? @Anne_Hidalgo and @TonyEstanguet make him smell the French air
STRONGLY PARIS 2024!#Olympic Games #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/JNBwB3GpVG
– francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 9, 2021
It was then installed in front of the town hall of Paris, where the athletes also went.
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The Olympic medalists in front of the town hall of Paris, with the Olympic flag, in the presence of the mayor Anne Hidalgo and Tony Estanguet on August 9, 2021. © SARAH MEYSSONNIER / REUTERS
Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu and French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) President Brigitte Henriques were also present on the spot to congratulate the athletes and project themselves on Paris 2024.
READ ALSO. “The results are mixed,” says Brigitte Henriques, President of the CNOSF
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Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu, CNOSF President Brigitte Henriques, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and President of the 2024 Games Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet at Paris City Hall on August 9, 2021. © STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP
The president at the Trocadéro
Meanwhile, the party continued at the Trocadéro. There was a breakdance demonstration at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, a discipline that will make its first appearance at the Games in 2024.
Wrapped in their French flags, judoka Teddy Riner, bronze medalist in his -100 kg and team gold category, gymnast Samir Aït-Saïd, 4th on the rings, or even silver-adorned decathlete Kévin Mayer celebrated their return to France, in front of a cheerful audience.
?????? This is the end for #Tokyo2020 but the beginning for #Paris2024 as evidenced by the festivities at the Trocadéro.
The opportunity for the President of the Republic, @EmmanuelMacron, to send a message from the third floor of the Eiffel Tower. pic.twitter.com/JQWRCbOApW
– francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 9, 2021
President Emmanuel Macron made a brief appearance and breathed a message, from the third and last floor of the Eiffel Tower. “Faster, higher, stronger… Together! “ he shouted in chorus with young people accompanying him.
The patrouille de France then drew a blue white red flag in the air, as the day before during the handover ceremony between Tokyo and Paris.
Celebrated team sports
The climax of this day was the arrival at the Trocadéro of the handball, volleyball and basketball teams, which were celebrated at the height of their feat – 5 medals brought back, out of 5 possible, including three titles, with a historic double in handball – gold for both women and men.
READ ALSO. MAINTENANCE. Handball JO: “We are at the top and we want to stay there”, warns Philippe Bana
The basketball players opened the ball, under the cries of a panicked public, chanting the names of its heroes.
No words. Thank you ??#UneSeuleEquipe @Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/YUTvTIdUL5
– French Basketball Teams (@FRABasketball) August 9, 2021
Nicolas Batum, who brought back the money with his teammates, author of a majestic counter in the semi-final against Serbia who gave the victory to the Blues, tweeted, moved, a simple “Thank you France”, accompanied by a video of the crowd gathered under the Eiffel Tower.
Thank you France! ???? pic.twitter.com/ti4zqGfkx4
– Nicolas Batum (@ nicolas88batum) August 9, 2021
A Marseillaise was also improvised in honor of the partners of Earvin Ngapeth, crowned Olympic champions, while they played their very first final in the Olympic Games.
Marseillaise in honor of our Olympic champions at the Trocadéro #chills pic.twitter.com/xtfYzq9SoR
— FFvolley (@FFvolley) August 9, 2021
A giant clapping with the public and the Olympic medalists followed.
POPOPPPPOOOWWWWWW @Paris2024 ??????#UneSeuleEquipe pic.twitter.com/gyB0rOm3Q3
– French Basketball Teams (@FRABasketball) August 9, 2021
Tokyo is well over, but the chills are not about to end.
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