The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris ended after a spectacular 17-day show, during which over 10,000 athletes from 206 countries participated in 392 sporting events. Nearly 850 medals were won, and 42 records were broken (including ten world and 32 Olympic records).
Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony of the Games was no less than a carnival. More than 71,000 spectators came to watch the final show at the Stade de France stadium in Paris to bid farewell to the marvellous event. A lot went down at the ceremony, from breathtaking performances from French artists to the passing of the torch to the Americans for the next edition of the Olympics 2028, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.
One of the event’s many highlights was the parade of athletes and flag-bearers from all the participating and competing countries.
After a few rounds of fireworks, some captivating music, and speeches from Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet and International Olympic CoI.O.C.ttI.O.C.(IOC) chief Thomas Bach, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo handed over the Olympic flag to her Los Angeles counterpart Karen Bass. This signified the Games have moved to Los Angeles in 2028.
Watch the highlights of the 2024 Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony:
Kickstart to Los Angeles 2028
California mH.E.RH.E.R.E.R., the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg performed in honour of the future host city. Actor Tom Cruise also performed a stunt at the handover.
As the Games’ responsibilities were handed over from Paris to Los Angeles, R&H.E.R.st H.E.R. played the national anthem of the United States.
Tom Cruise conducted a stunt in which he was lowered from the top of the Stade de France in a harness following the host city handover. The actor accepted the Olympic flag from Simone Biles and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. He affixed the flag to the back of a motorcycle and drove away, beginning the flag’s trip to the United States. A video was then played, showing him driving the bike into an aircraft and jumping out in Los Angeles, where he hung Olympic rings from the Hollywood sign. The Red Hot Chili Peppers provided the soundtrack for the video.
The concert then switched back to a live broadcast from Los Angeles, where the band performed “Can’t Stop” on Venice Beach.
Following this, singer-songwriter Billie Eilish performed her song “Birds of a Feather” along with her Finneas on top of a lifeguard tower.
Snoop Dogg then came to the Long Beach shoreline to perform “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” He also brought out Dr. Dre to play “The Next Episode.”
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