Tokyo Paralympics LIVE: Aled Davies retains shot put title after Hannah Cockroft wins seventh career gold

With the Paralympics heading to Paris in just three years time, the organisers of the 2024 Games have promised to “go big” as the country hosts the event for the first time.

The party atmosphere that followed the handover of the Paralympic to Paris was a reminder of what was missing in Tokyo despite the city putting on such a memorable spectacle: the fans.

At the end of the miracle Games, there was one more miracle medal for Great Britain – even if it wasn’t the colour the men’s wheelchair basketball team were targeting.

For the sixth straight Paralympics they played for bronze and for the fourth time they won it, with a 68-58 victory against Spain on the final day in Tokyo.

Considering they’re also the reigning world champions, this might appear an underwhelming result akin to another pair of socks at the bottom of a Christmas stocking.

But after the tumultuous build-up to the Games, which saw their head coach test positive for Covid just days before the squad were due to fly to Tokyo, this bronze means so much more.

Read Charlie Bennett’s final report from Tokyo on a special achievement from the GB team.

With the remarkable Tokyo Paralympic now officially over, reporter James Toney has reflected on an extraordinary Games for Great Britain in Japan.

Performances from Ellie Robinson, Alfie Hewett, David Smith and countless others have contributed towards a “historic” 10 days for ParalympicsGB.

The challenge, now, is to ensure theirs is a long-lasting impact.

The cauldron inside the Olympic Stadium closes on itself for the final time as the Paralympic flame is extinguished - that brings an end to the closing ceremony.

Prince Harry was featured in the IPC’s ‘We the 15’ video, which reaffirms their push for inclusivity and change following the completion of the Paralympic Games.

A special and emotional rendition of ‘What a Wonderful World’ is then performed in the Olympic Stadium, as we prepare to extinguish the Paralympic flame.

Parsons concludes his speech by declaring the Paralympic Games officially closed.

Tokyo 2020 Seiko Hashimoto is the first to speak and thanks the athletes for “filling stadiums with smiles”.

She adds: “Change starts with awareness. We’re determined to build a diverse and inclusive future where people recognise and support each other’s differences free from discrimination or barriers of any kind.”

IPC president Andrew Parsons begins his closing speech by thanking Japan. “Together, against the odds, we did it. You, the people of Japan, made this possible.” He declares his “immense gratitude” to the organisers of the Games.

Parsons then says the Tokyo Paralympics has seen athletes celebrate their differences, and reaffirms his commitment to pushing for increased inclusivity for the 15 per cent of the world’s population who have a disability.

The Paralympic Games have been passed over to Paris, and in some style!

There’s a burst of noise and colour as we are transported to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, where the handover party is in full flow.

The music is provided by French DJ Pone, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. He performs from his bed through a screen using eye-tracking software. He is a remarkable artist.

The passing of the Paralympic flag involves figures from Tokyo, the IPC and Paris.

Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, passes the flag onto IPC president Andrew Parsons. He then hands it over to Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris.

The French flag will now be raised inside the Olympic Stadium while La Marseillaise plays out.

The performance reaches a high-tempo crescendo, as all the dancers from the ceremony come together in a colourful and powerful conclusion.

The Paralympic flag has now been lowered and will be passed onto the representatives from Paris 2024.