Maori singing and dancing started proceedings just as it did in the Opening Ceremony nine days ago before the medals for the marathon races were awarded to the three podium finishers in each of the races.

The flags from all the competing nations were then raised as it was left to Andrew Parsons, an IPC Governing Board Member and President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (BPC), to officially draw the curtain on the event.

In a short speech, Parsons thanked the athletes for their remarkable performances in the first IPC Athletics World Championships outside of Europe and expressed his joy that Christchurch had successfully staged the biggest Paralympic event in the continent since the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

As is tradition, Parsons finished his speech with the words: "I now declare the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships closed."

A three course dinner followed before the Paralympic Anthem was played and the IPC flag was ceremoniously lowered.

With the formalities over, pop band "Mista Meana" took to the stage and the athletes filled the dance floor where they were left to party long into the Christchurch night.

The enjoyable Closing Ceremony marked a rather bizarre final day for the World Championships which was dominated by the chaos regarding the marathon in the morning.



The blue-ribbon event of the competition was somewhat tarnished after Britain and Canada pulled out of it at a late stage because of safety fears created by the fact that there were no road closures for the race as had been previously promised.

The decision to keep the roads open for the glamour race sparked widespread criticism and the IPC have released a statement condemning the Local Organising Committee (LOC) regarding the lack of safety for the athletes.

"It is the responsibility of the LOC to ensure safety and organise the marathon," the statement said

"They [the teams] had been assured by the LOC prior to the event that they were looking for if not full, then partial closures

"They were informed 24 hours before the event that this wasn't the case."

"At one stage the race may have been cancelled.

"Safety is our first priority.

"It is understandable that the Canadians and British pulled out and we are launching a full investigation why they were informed only 24 hours in advance of an otherwise successful World Championships."

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