The 33rd Olympic Games in Paris came to a spectacular close as stars from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and music gathered to mark the end of the event at the Stade de France. Among the highlights, actor Tom Cruise made a dramatic entrance, descending from the stadium’s roof to collect the Olympic flag, symbolizing the handover to Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Games. Cruise’s daring appearance was followed by a swift departure on a motorcycle, setting the tone for a thrilling conclusion.
The closing ceremony also featured electrifying performances on Venice Beach, with music legends such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre delivering an unforgettable set. Earlier in the evening, Great Britain’s gold medalists Alex Yee and Bryony Page proudly carried their nation’s flag during the ceremony inside the Paris stadium. Yee triumphed in the men’s triathlon, and Page secured Britain’s first-ever Olympic gold in trampoline.
Team Great Britain closed the Games in seventh place on the medal table, with a total of 65 medals—one more than their tally at Tokyo 2020—comprising 14 golds, 22 silvers, and 29 bronzes.
In his closing remarks, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach lauded the Paris 2024 Games as “sensational,” or as he playfully put it, “Seine-sational,” in a nod to the river running through the host city. Bach, who will step down in 2025, emphasized that these Games marked a “new era” for the Olympics, highlighting their alignment with the IOC’s agenda for younger, more urban, inclusive, and sustainable events, achieving full gender parity for the first time.
Bach praised the athletes for their extraordinary achievements, noting their ability to demonstrate the heights humanity can reach. He also highlighted the Olympic Village as a beacon of peace, where athletes from countries in conflict lived together harmoniously, inspiring a global audience with a message of hope and unity. “While the Olympic Games cannot create peace, they can foster a culture of peace that has the power to inspire the world,” Bach stated, urging everyone who embodies the Olympic spirit to live by this ethos daily.
Bach also paid tribute to the 45,000 volunteers who played a crucial role in the smooth running of the Games, which opened with a rain-soaked ceremony along the Seine on July 26.
As the Olympic flame was passed to Los Angeles, the closing ceremony offered a glimpse into what the world can expect in 2028. Inside Stade de France, R&B star H.E.R. delivered a stirring rendition of the American national anthem before the scene shifted to Los Angeles. The Olympic flag was showcased across iconic locations in the city, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Venice Beach, with appearances by mountain biker Kate Courtney, track and field legend Michael Johnson, and skateboarder Jagger Eaton. Cruise was also seen in front of the Hollywood sign, now adorned with Olympic rings.
The ceremony’s finale saw Snoop Dogg, who served as a special correspondent for NBC during the Paris Games, join Dr. Dre for a show-stopping performance that left the audience eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Olympic history set to unfold in Los Angeles.
