Movie star Tom Cruise descended onto France’s 80,000-seat Stade de Franc to the sound of H.E.R. performing the “Star Spangled Banner” to transport the Olympic flag, ushering in a suitably Hollywood vibe to the closing ceremony of the Paris Games as it handed the torch to the Games’ next host, Los Angeles.
After weeks of fierce competition, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games came to a close on Aug. 11, with France’s President Emmanuel Macron kicking off its final ceremony to the French national anthem.
The ceremony featured more than a hundred performers, including acrobats, dancers, and circus artists. Directed by Thomas Jolly, who also helmed the opening ceremony, the event’s theme was “Records.”
Traditional elements such as the athlete parade, flag presentations, and the lowering of the Olympic flag were included.
A highlight was the official handover of the Olympic flag from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, symbolizing the transition to the next Olympic host city. Bass then passed the flag to Cruise, who headed out of the stadium on a motorbike.
The closing ceremony included the awarding of the women’s marathon medals and the ceremonial extinguishing of the Olympic flame.
As the Olympic torch was lowered, preparations will begin for the Paralympic Games, set to take place from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8. The Paralympic flame will be ignited in Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, shortly after the Olympic closing ceremony. A torch relay involving approximately 1,000 torchbearers will then traverse 50 French cities from Aug. 25 to 28, culminating in the Paralympic opening ceremony.
NBC’s Mike Tirico hosted once again, alongside late-night host Jimmy Fallon. They were joined by sports commentator Terry Gannon and former Olympic figure skaters Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, all of whom have previously hosted the PyeongChang, Tokyo, and Beijing Games.
Swimming sensation Katie Ledecky and rowing gold medalist Nick Mead proudly carried the American flag at the closing ceremony.
Ledecky, now the most decorated female Olympian, added to her historic career with a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle, her ninth Olympic gold. Ledecky mentioned that she would like to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Mead, alongside teammates Liam Corrigan, Michael Grady, and Justin Best, made history by securing Team USA’s first gold medal in the men’s four rowing event since 1960.
The United States led the medal count with 126 medals in total, including 40 gold medals, followed by China, which collected 91 medals total, and Japan in third place with a total medal count of 45.
Mystery shrouded the Stade de France as a golden figure descended from top of the stadium. Clad entirely in gold, the voyager’s identity remains a closely guarded secret. The golden figure was greeted by the silver masked rider who helped open the ceremony.
The arrival coincides with the raising of the Greek flag, a symbolic nod to the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
Dancers dropped down from the skies, and while performing an interpretive dance raised giant Olympic rings.
French band Phoenix performed their hit song “Lisztomania.” The band was joined by other artists including the lead singer of Vampire Weekend, Ezra Koenig, before getting the crowd jumping with their hit ”1901.”
