As the lights dimmed and the air buzzed with anticipation, Paris bid a glittering farewell to the Olympic Games with a closing ceremony that was as bold as it was breathtaking. At the heart of the spectacle was none other than Tom Cruise, who stunned the audience by soaring through the night sky, plucking the Olympic flag from the stadium, and speeding off into the future—Los Angeles, the next host of the Games.
The ceremony began with a golden figure emerging from the shadows of a futuristic landscape, symbolizing the resurrection of the Olympic spirit in an uncertain world. Acrobats and dancers, some from the French fire service, descended from the roof of the Stade de France, their ghostly forms weaving through giant Olympic rings as Swiss musician Alain Roche played a haunting melody on a vertically suspended piano.
As the night unfolded, the French singer Yseult delivered a soul-stirring rendition of “My Way,” bridging the gap between French and American cultures. This poignant performance was followed by a message from Paris: a reminder of the importance of protecting the Olympic spirit amidst global turmoil.
The spectacle was a fitting end to an Olympic Games that had captivated the world with record-breaking ticket sales, unprecedented TV viewership, and even a surprising number of marriage proposals among athletes. Thomas Jolly, the mastermind behind the ceremony, called it a celebration of “respect and tolerance” in a fragile world, emphasizing the beauty of humanity when it comes together.
The ceremony unfolded beneath Paris’s revolutionary Olympic cauldron, a fiery ring of LED lights suspended from a balloon that has become the city’s newest icon. As the flame was extinguished by France’s swimming hero, Léon Marchand, the stadium erupted into cheers, marking the beginning of an unforgettable finale.
The Stade de France, transformed into a shimmering, futuristic landscape, hosted a moment of unity as athletes, volunteers, and spectators joined together to sing the unofficial anthems of the Games. It was a final celebration of Paris’s vision for the Olympics—a grand open-air party that brought sports into the heart of the city.
The night reached its crescendo as the enigmatic golden figure, played by French breakdancer Arthur Cadre, was surrounded by dancers and acrobats, all under the watchful eyes of athletes. The French electro-pop band Phoenix took the stage, joined by the Belgian singer Angèle and Cambodian rapper VannDa, setting the tone for the transfer to Los Angeles.
In a Hollywood-style handover, Tom Cruise abseiled into the stadium, securing the Olympic flag before speeding off on a motorbike. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, alongside US gymnast Simone Biles, accepted the flag, marking the city’s turn to host the Games in 2028. Bass acknowledged the high standard set by Paris but expressed confidence that Los Angeles would rise to the challenge.
Every detail of the Paris Olympics had been designed to captivate, from the purple athletics track to the picturesque venues like the Eiffel Tower and Chateau of Versailles. Paris had aimed to reinvent the Games, making them more accessible and appealing to a younger audience while also honoring the past.
In a historic moment, the women’s marathon winners received their medals during the closing ceremony, with Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands taking gold. The marathon course, inspired by the 1789 march of women from Paris to Versailles, highlighted the celebration of women in sport.
The closing ceremony was a logistical marvel, with rehearsals held in the early hours to accommodate the packed schedule of the Games. Despite facing online threats, the creative team behind the ceremony remained steadfast, delivering a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
As the ceremony concluded, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach spoke of the power of sport to bring peace in times of conflict, a message that resonated deeply with the cheering crowd. Paris had not only hosted a successful Olympic Games but had also left a lasting legacy, one that celebrated unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the Olympics.