TThe 19 days of competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris ended on August 11 with a landslide victory at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, which attracted around 71,500 spectators.
The first half of the program consisted of performances paying tribute to the host country and French culture, while the second half had a more “Hollywood” feel, as the next Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, praised the athletes for their “His-sational games.”
“Your performances were incredible. You competed fiercely against each other. Every competition was on the verge of perfection. Every performance caused excitement around the world. You showed us what greatness we humans are capable of.”
Here’s a recap of the best moments from the 2024 graduation ceremony.
The music
The closing ceremony gives France’s best music groups a chance to shine. Fans went wild for Phoenix, the Grammy-winning rock band from Versailles, who played hits like “Lisztomania,” “If I Ever Feel Better” and “1901.”
Professional musicians were not the only singers at the event, however. As part of a part of the closing ceremony called “Athletes’ Karaoke,” the world’s best athletes belted out Queen’s “We Are the Champions” as they entered the stadium.
The dance
After around 9,000 athletes marched into the stadium, the event opened with a dramatic expressive dance in honor of “the power of diversity and solidarity.”
Giant rings were rolled out to represent the formation of Olympic rings, and actors did handstands inside the giant rings.
Alain Roche played piano vertically while floating in the air.
The Hollywood treatment
To symbolize the passing of the torch to the next host city of the Summer Olympics, Los Angeles, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, presented the Olympic flag to Karen Bass, the first female mayor of Los Angeles. Simone Biles, the most successful US gymnast of all time, was on stage for the passing of the torch, representing the USA. The five-time Grammy Award winner, known as “HER”, then sang the national anthem.
The cameras focused on Tom Cruise, who was standing on a ledge on the roof of the stadium. He was lowered to the stage on cables. He shook hands with Bass and gymnast Simone Biles, who handed Cruise the Olympic flag, which he strapped to the back of a motorcycle and sped off. Footage of Cruise cruise through the streets of Paris and then jumping out of a plane in a short, stunt-filled, pre-filmed montage that played out like an action thriller. He was shown unveiling a version of the Hollywood sign with the two “oo”s before the “d” was replaced by the colorful Olympic rings.
The flag was transported by skateboard to a stage on a palm-fringed beach, where Grammy Award winners took the stage to salute the flag. The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed “Can’t Stop” and Billie Eilish performed “Birds of a Feather.” Eilish wore an oversized shirt reminiscent of the red, white and blue Ralph Lauren polo shirts worn by U.S. Olympians. Then Snoop Dogg, in a red, white and blue blazer, performed a snippet of “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and was then joined by Dr. Dre for his hit “The Next Episode.”
The closing ceremony ended with an electrifying rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” by French singer Yseult.
Those who are in the mood for the Olympics don’t have to wait another four years for the next Olympic Games. The next Olympic Games (all winter sports) will take place in Italy in 2026, and in 2030 the Olympic Games will return to France, also for the winter games.
