Paris gives Paralympic Games a send-off for the ages

Stade de France transformed into huge electronica dance party with world's elite para athletes doing farewell conga

With an explosion of fireworks, laser beams, breakdance and a thumping set by the giants of French electronica, France bid goodbye to the Paralympic Games on Sunday night with the biggest party it had ever thrown.

The feelgood summer of athletic achievement in Paris had turned crowds hoarse from so much cheering and for ever changed the nation's attitude to sport and disability, and now Parisians were desperately sad to say goodbye to it all.