Successful Paralympic Games End

Jazz, gospel and flamenco music were mixed with magic tricks at Montjuic Stadium on Monday during a three-hour ceremony to close the 1992 Paralympic Games.

King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain were the honored guests at the event staged before 35,000 spectators and more than 3,000 athletes scattered around the infield.

The celebration brought to a close what is already being called the most successful Paralympics ever. It drew a total of 1.346 million spectators over the 11 days of competition.

“The Paralympic Games have been as successful as the Olympic Games,” said Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee.

“That is an indication that we must take another look at, and think seriously about, the subject of disabled people. It was the same organizing committee and the same volunteers and that worked out very well.”