There's political uproar in them thar hills as the Paralympic thrills come to a close. Woe, woe and thrice woe, the end is nigh.
Revenge
Argentina got the football World Cup in 2022 in Qatar. France beat Argentina to claim gold in the blind football. It finished 1-1 and France won the penalty shoot-out to claim their first gold medal in the event which has been at the Paralympics since 2004.
The success was one of two golds for the hosts on the day and it took them to 19 – one off the target of 20. But they were in eighth place – the desired position for the 2024 Games. So all to play for on the final day of competition.
Inclusion, inclusion, inclusion
A nod to the former British prime minister Tony Blair who, when seeking a second term, said his administration would promote "Education, education, education".
The Paralympic Games have been instructive for all manner of reasons. For the past fortnight we have witnessed stories of people with impairments triumphing over physical or mental adversities, and also what politicians fail to do to upgrade the infrastructure to assist their independence.
StreetNav app plots path to accessible city travel beyond Paris Paralympics
Nourishing then to see invective-filled demonstrations on the streets of Paris and elsewhere in France on the penultimate day of the Paralympic Games over the political deadlock in the French parliament. The Olympics and Paralympics, a flickering vignette of happiness in the general drama of pain.
And so I win the singles
Tokito Oda exacted revenge on Alfie Hewett in the men's wheelchair tennis singles. The 18-year-old saved a match point on his way to a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory at the Roland Garros stadium.
On Day 9, Hewett and Gordon Reid beat Oda and Takuya Miki 6-2, 6-1 to take the men's doubles. Hewett, 26, will have to console himself with a second silver following his defeat in the final in Rio in 2016.
Paralympic wheelchair tennis archives inspired me to singles gold, says Kamij
Flagging
If only flag-bearing duties brought good fortune. Nantenin Keita carried the French standard during the opening ceremony but she finished sixth in the final of the T13 400m.
The 39-year-old received a huge ovation when she arrived for her race but she was well off the pace. Rayane Soares da Silva won the course in a world record 53.55 seconds.
"I'm disappointed," said Keita. "I had the feeling that I didn't turn up." Keita, who was also in the 100m, was eliminated during the heats.
Upbeat
The French para-cycling federation will be cock-a-hoop. The target was between 20 and 30 medals. And the cyclists brought in 28.
