Olympic VannDa
Closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, in the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024.
VannDa Sings Triumphant 'Au Revoir' to Olympics
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (C) hands over the Olympic flag to Los Angeles' Mayor Karen Bass (L) next to Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo (R) during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, in the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024. Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP
By Agence France-Presse (AFP) August 12, 2024 8:50 AM
Paris, France -- Hollywood star Tom Cruise abseiled from the roof of the Stade de France as Paris said farewell on Sunday to an Olympics hailed as one of the most successful in history.
Cruise descended on a wire in front of 71,500 spectators, grabbed the Olympic flag and jumped on a motorbike, to the delight of athletes and fans.
In a preview of what the world can expect when the Games head to Los Angeles in 2028, the "Mission Impossible" star was then shown boarding a plane and skydiving into the Californian city before adorning the iconic Hollywood sign with the Olympic rings.
Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer Billie Eilish and rappers Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre then performed a mini-concert on a beach framed by the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The closing spectacle marked the beginning of the four-year countdown to the LA Games, and American gymnastics icon Simone Biles joined Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass as the Olympic flag was formally handed over.
Earlier, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said the Paris Games had been "sport at its best".
"These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish," Bach said. "Or dare I say: Seine-sational Games," the IOC chief quipped in a pun about the river flowing through Paris which was the scene of the opening ceremony.
"Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you," Bach added.
Around 9,000 athletes had flooded into the stadium to be entertained by 270 performers and artists in a ceremony billed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport.
"We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magic," Paris 2024 organising chief Tony Estanguet told athletes. "You made us happy, you made us feel alive -- the world needed this moment so much."
Athletes party
The ceremony began when France's swimming hero Leon Marchand -- winner of four gold medals at these Games -- collected the Olympic flame from the cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens to begin its journey to the stadium.
Local rugby hero Antoine Dupont -- who led the host nation to a rugby sevens gold medal in one of the early highlights of the Games -- carried a French flag into the stadium as partying athletes swarmed the field.
The ceremony followed 17 days of frequently breathtaking sporting action set against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Chateau de Versailles.
In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony, Sunday's festivities began as a golden sunset bathed the French capital.
The last day of sporting action saw the United States pip China for top spot in the battle for medals after the US women's basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games.
The win -- the eighth consecutive Olympic women's basketball title won by the USA -- ensured the Americans finished level with China on 40 golds each.
The USA however finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91.
Marathon magic
Sunday began with a gripping women's marathon victory by Dutch long-distance running star Sifan Hassan.
Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble in Paris, competing in the 5,000m, the 10,000m and the marathon.
But in a jaw-dropping sprint finish, Hassan overhauled Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2hr 22min 55sec.
She fell to the ground on the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex in the heart of Paris before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate an extraordinary achievement.
Hassan was presented with her gold medal at the closing ceremony.
© Agence France-Presse
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Curtain drawn on Paris Olympiad
Party time
Paris bid a triumphant "au revoir" to the Olympics on Sunday as the curtain came down on its widely praised staging of the global sporting spectacular. A star-studded closing ceremony got under way in front of around 71,500 spectators at the Stade de France to crown an event that has been broadly acclaimed as one of the greatest editions of the Olympics ever held. Follow our liveblog to see how the ceremony unfolded.
Summary:Â
Paris closed out two and a half extraordinary weeks of Olympic sports and emotion with a boisterous, star-studded show in France’s national stadium on Sunday, handing over hosting duties for the Summer Games to the next city in line: Los Angeles in 2028.
Tom Cruise made a dramatic entry into the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics at the Stade de France on Sunday. The Hollywood superstar abseiled into the arena from the roof and then grabbed the Olympic flag, before jumping on a motorbike, to roars from the crowd.
LA is expected to play heavily on its star power at the ceremony, with pop star Billie Eilish, rapper Snoop Dogg and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all confirmed.
The closing ceremony directed by Thomas Jolly, the mastermind of spectacular opening ceremony which took place on the River Seine, took place at the stadiumin the northern suburb of Saint-Denis at 9pm (2000 GMT).
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
Dystopian tribute to Ancient Greece
Soon after, a dystopian acrobatic display took over the stadium, with the "Golden Voyager" floating down from the sky.
The bejewelled figure, played by French dancer Arthur Cadre, explored a barren scene, before discovering elements of humanity and the Olympic games.
The International Olympic Committee said the "Golden Voyager lands in a world that is deserted and mysterious, ready to explore".
Soon, he was joined by fellow outerspace travellers who paid tribute to the Olympic's origins, which began in Ancient Greece 2,800 years ago.
Read more: Team GB finish with 65 medals - how does this compare to previous years?
Artistic director Thomas Jolly filled the stadium with gymnasts and acrobats who rediscovered the Olympics in a world where the games no longer exist.
A floating piano, played by Alain Roche, led a performance of the Hymn to Apollo, an ancient Greek song.
After the aliens "excavated" the Olympic rings, the five iconic symbols were hoisted in the air.
As a highlights video showing the best and most emotional moments of the Paris Olympics played, with bike crashes, heavy punches and tears all included, the athletes "stormed the stage", dancing around bands and musicians.