The 2024 Paris Games ended as the Olympic flame was formally put out in a grand closing event on Sunday. The closing ceremony drew the curtain on a historic two-plus week stretch of Olympic competition.
Unlike the opening ceremony which was held outside a stadium—a historic first—more than 71,000 spectators packed into Stade de France, the country’s national stadium for the closing bash for the Olympics.
Memorable performances at the closing ceremony
The event began on a somber tone, featuring French singer Zaho de Sagazan and a choir in all black encircling the Olympics cauldron while singing “Sous le ciel de Paris.”
@celebritease5 Zaho De Sagazan-sous le ciel de Paris #olympics #zahodesagazan #jo2024 #speedsongs #editpiaf ♬ son original – celebri-tease
Dancers and acrobats with a ghostly appearance, including fire-service gymnasts, descended from the roof of the Stade de France stadium, jumping onto enormous Olympic rings. Swiss musician Alain Roche played “Hymn to Apollo” on a vertically suspended piano while floating in the air.
The pace then quickened with a vibrant orchestral performance, where the flags were ceremoniously brought in, and athletes from 205 delegations paraded the stadium alongside thousands of volunteers and athletes, coming together in a unity-filled moment of waving flags, as opposed to the opening ceremony where they appeared on separate boats along the Seine.
French singer Yseult delivered a stunning rendition of “My Way,” symbolising French-US relations, as the original French song was rearranged in English for Frank Sinatra as the last artist performance for the ceremony.
Everyone, including dancers, athletes, volunteers, and spectators, came together for a final performance, singing the dance anthem, “Freed” from Desire, followed by “We are the Champions.”
Stunt legend Tom Cruise revs up excitement for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
The dramatic appearance of Tom Cruise marked the passing of the Olympic flag to the next host city, Los Angeles. The actor, famous for performing his own stunts in the Mission Impossible movies, descended from the edge of the open-air stadium to the stage to receive the flag from Simone Biles.
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He then rode out of the stadium and journeyed through Paris on a motorcycle and then, as a skydiver, landed on the Hollywood sign, with the double-Os transformed into the bottom Olympic rings. Skateboarder Jagger Eaton, who won a silver medal in Paris, then took the flag to Venice Beach.
America starts taking the stage in anticipation of 2028 Olympics
At the Venice beach, the Red Hot Chili Peppers launched a beachside concert featuring Southern California artists Billie Eilish, rapper Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre, while five-time Grammy-winning artist H.E.R sang the US national anthem from inside the stadium.
@whenweallvotesquad when we all vote co-chair @H.E.R. bringing the #olympics #closingceremony home with her incredible performance of the U.S. national anthem. 🇺🇸💫 next stop, los angeles! #LA28 📹: @NBC Olympics & Paralympics #paris2024 #olympics2024 #losangeles #paris #HER #nationalanthem #starspangledbanner #usa #teamusa #gold #electricguitar #singing #la #fy #foryou #trending #xyzabc #abcxyz ♬ original sound – When We All Vote
