PARIS, Dec 23 — The biggest sporting event of 2024 was without doubt the Parisian high-wire double-act of the Olympic Games followed by the Paralympics. From a colourful, sometimes controversial and sodden opening ceremony to boxers caught up in a gender row to refugees on the podium, they served up many memorable moments. As part of our sports year-enders package, AFP Sport looks at 10 of the best: Rain on the parade — Organisers promised a spectacular opening ceremony and the rain-soaked boat parade on the River Seine ended up making global headlines but not for the expected reasons.

Church leaders and conservatives were left outraged by a scene involving drag queens and lesbian DJ Barbara Butch that appeared to parody Jesus’s Last Supper. Artistic director Thomas Jolly denied any such intention but he and others involved ended up facing vicious online harassment. ‘Marchons, Marchand!’ — If Paris luxuriated in the honour of hosting the Games, Toulouse took French bragging rights for the exploits of its athletes with local rugby star Antoine Dupont securing Sevens gold and Leon Marchand dominating in the pool.

The 22-year-old, urged on by the rhythmic chorus of “Leon, Leon” at the La Defense Arena, won five medals in total, four of them gold including a double in the space of two hours which sent the crowd into paroxysms of “joie”. The downside of such instant celebrity? “I can’t go out to restaurants like I used to anymore,” he said when he got bac.