Paris Bids Farewell To The Olympics With An Epic Closing Ceremony: Tom Cruise's Flying Stunt, Billie Eilish & Snoop Dogg's Performances
What an emotional roller coaster the past two weeks have been, as the Olympics has finally come to an end, with athletes wowing the sports world with their incredible performances.
The closing ceremony kicked off on 11 August to honour the athletes' achievements. It was their final chance to march into the stadium and represent their countries. It was also a moment to bid farewell to these Games and look forward to the next ones in Los Angeles in four years.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo passed the flag to Thomas Bach, Olympics president, who then handed it over to Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, setting the stage for LA to shine at the 2028 Games.
Photo from Reuters
Tom Cruise’s Thrilling Stunt Steals the Show at Paris Olympics
Later on, Tom Cruise made an unforgettable appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony. After H.E.R. delivered a powerful rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, Cruise descended from the top of the Stade de France, drawing all eyes to him.
Photo from Carl Recine/Getty Images
The cameras tracked his smooth descent as he flew down to join the athletes from the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. The actor then took the Olympic flag on a motorcycle ride from Paris to Los Angeles, where he stood beneath the Hollywood sign alongside the Olympic rings.
Photo from Jamie Squire/Getty Images
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Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre Light Up Venice Beach with Epic Performances
The camera then shifted from the Hollywood sign to the L.A. beaches, where the Red Hot Chili Peppers fired up the crowd with Can’t Stop. Billie Eilish, a nine-time Grammy winner, then took the stage with a performance of Birds of a Feather, setting the mood before Snoop Dogg hit the spotlight. He rapped his iconic Drop It Like It’s Hot, and then teamed up with Dr. Dre for an unforgettable performance of The Next Episode.
Photo from Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LA28
Photo from Getty Images for LA28
Photo from Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LA28
This marks the third time Los Angeles will host the Olympics, following the 1932 and 1984 Games. The U.S. has also hosted the Games in St. Louis in 1904 and Atlanta in 1996.
The United States took the top spot in the medal count, snagging 40 golds, 44 silvers, and 42 bronzes. China followed with 40 golds, 27 silvers, and 24 bronzes, while Japan (20-12-13) and Australia (18-19-16) also had strong showings.
Team Singapore sent 23 athletes to compete in 11 sports. Joseph Schooling still holds the title as Singapore’s only Olympic gold medallist.
Maximilian Maeder, a top contender in men’s kiteboarding, managed to snag a bronze medal in Paris.
The Paris 2024 Games wrapped up with French swimmer Leon Marchand, joined by athletes from around the globe and the Refugee Olympic Team, extinguishing the Olympic flame. Bach then declared the event officially over, closing with a spectacular fireworks display.
Photo from Reuters
Photo from Andy Chua/Reuters
