Olympic farewell 'fabulous' for all involved in Paris

France bid a final and reluctant farewell to the Paris Olympics on Sept 14 with a parade on the Champs-Elysees, followed by a concert featuring artistes from the opening and closing ceremonies.

The final event of an acclaimed summer of sport saw tens of thousands of fans come together on the French capital's most famous avenue to applaud and cheer the nation's new sporting heroes.

Around 70,000 people gathered for the parade featuring athletes, volunteers and public-sector workers, which was followed by a multiartiste concert on a spectacular stage around the Arc de Triomphe.

"Saying thanks, not just to the athletes but to everyone who made these games magic, I think it's fabulous," said France's most-decorated track athlete, Marie-Jose Perec, who lit the cauldron at the start of the Games on July 26.

"It's a beautiful way of saying goodbye because everything must come to an end and tonight it will all be over," the visibly emotional 200m and 400m triple gold medallist told reporters as she arrived.