Hollywood star Tom Cruise abseiled from the roof of France’s National Stadium to receive the Olympic flag, bringing a healthy dose of Hollywood to the closing ceremony of the Paris Games as the French capital handed the flag over to next hosts Los Angeles.
Grammy-winning R&B singer HER played the Mission Impossible soundtrack as Tom Cruise made his jump, drawing gasps of amazement from spectators as he plunged 50 metres into the Stade de France in the finale of a ceremony that combined the traditional, the unknown and the hype of Hollywood.
After greeting the Olympians in the audience, he shook hands with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass before accepting the Olympic flag from her.
After Tom Cruise’s exit on a motorcycle, the closing ceremony continued with a recorded video of the 62-year-old parachuting down onto the Hollywood sign. A wide shot showed the Olympic rings integrated into the Los Angeles landmark.
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The flag was then passed by former and current U.S. Olympians as it paraded through the city before reaching a beach party featuring performances by LA music icons Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.
The ceremony cut to pre-recorded footage of the action star touring the French capital, racing past Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower before arriving at the airport.
After boarding the plane, Tom Cruise was seen jumping out of the plane with a parachute and later landing in America.
During the stunts he wore his typical leather jacket.
