Olympics closing ceremony LIVE: Tom Cruise, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg star in Paris 2024 finale
Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Red Hot Chili Peppers made appearances in the Paris 2024 finale and the road to Los Angeles 2028 begins
The Olympics concluded on a star-studded night at the Stade de France as Paris 2024 delivered a memorable closing ceremony.
But the spirit of the Games returned over the last two weeks and Paris provided an evening that included Tom Cruise, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Red Hot Chili Peppers as the baton was passed onto Los Angeles 2028.
Team USA topped the medal table, while France enjoyed its best return in terms of medals in 124 years, behind Leon Marchand in the pool.
As for Team GB, there were more medals on the final day to conclude a successful Games, securing one more medal overall but eight fewer gold medals than at Tokyo 2020.
Relive all the action from Sunday night’s closing ceremony below:
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
A few more items to tick off before the fun begins in.
First, the Olympic anthem. Then, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, will join Thomas Bach on stage, while the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, joins from the opposite direction. Simone Biles is now on stage too!
This is where the handover takes place between Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, with the Olympic flag passing from one city to the next.
Then, when that’s over, the artistic segment of the LA 2028 will begin.
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
Thomas Bach thanks the Olympic athletes for inspiring “billions” around the world. He says: “Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone”.
“You showed us what greatness humans are capable of.,” he says. “You lived peacefully under one roof in the Olympic village, you created a culture of peace.
“This is why I call on everyone to let us live this culture of peace every single day.”
Bach praises the Olympics for being “younger, more inclusive, more sustainable” and the “the first Games with first gender parity”.
He then throws a big Dad joke in, adding “you could call it, the SEINE-sational Games”.
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
Tony Estanguet, President of the Organising Committee for the Paris 2024 Games, thanks those who have made Paris 2024 a “great success” - from those working on the ground to run the transport links, the emergency services, and the security staff who ensured the Games were safe.
He thanks the “magical” athletes - and says Paris 2024 broke viewership figures as well as being the Olympics with the most marriage proposals. Appropriate for the City of Love.
Estanguet ends his speech by looking forward to the start of the Paralympics, which begin on August 28 in Paris!
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
We have to get through some speeches now. Then we’ll be handing over to LA.
We see the journey of the Olympic torch to Paris. In a few moments, Leon Marchand will bring the lantern back into the Stade de France.
We will hear from Tony Estanguet, President of the Organising Committee for the Paris 2024 Games.
Then Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, then takes the stage. For Bach, this is basically his World Cup final.
But they are joined on stage by represtatives of the five continents: Teddy Riner (Europe), Kaylee McKeown (Oceania) Sun Yingsha (Asia), Eliud Kipchoge (Africa), Mijaín López (Americas), as well as Cindy Ngamba (Olympic Refugee Team).
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
There was only place for Phoenix to finish: 1901!
Right on cue, as 1901 reaches its climax, Thomas Mars jumps into the crowd of Olympians and is lifted high into the night!
A bang. Confetti. Great stuff from Phoenix there.
And that’s just the start!
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
Phoenix!!!!!!!!!
The iconic French pop indie band gets the party started! As the first bars of Love is Like a Sunset ring out around the Stade de France!
Lisztomania next, jumpy, upbeat, the show is underway.
An interlude from Kavinsky, with her Nightcall.
Before Phoenix resume - If I Ever Feel Better, another classic .
With all due respect to my guy, the rapper VannDa, I have to Google his name to find his song: Time To Rise.
We now have a hooded guitarist, shredding a solo.
Fair to say this is a mixed bag.
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
The Olympics, though, are about the athletes, the pain, sacrifices and years of hard work that go into the joyful moments only the Games can produce.
A stirring montage shows us the best of Paris 2024. What an Olympics they were.
And now the athletes are encouraged to flock onto the stage in collective triumph.
We’re about to get our first star performance of the evening, too...
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
The rings on stage are coming together. I wonder what they will form!
It’s the Olympic rings of course, raised high into the night. Wonderful.
Fireworks! Golden sparks! Whizzing around the top of the Stade de France!
“In this finale, Thomas Jolly celebrates the power of diversity and solidarity: just like the Olympics Games, the greatest intangible workof humankind for peace, together, human beings are capable of the best.”
And that’s the end of the Golden Voyager’s journey.
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
Oh, now this cool. It’s the Hymn to Apollo, performed by Alain Roche, seated at a piano suspended vertically in the air.
Meanwhile, opera singer Benjamin Bernheim gives a spectacular performance
Discovered in the ruins of Delphi, the Hymn to Apollo was performed for the first time on 16 June 1894 at the International Congress in Paris for the revival of the Olympic Games.
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
Ok cool so the Golden Voyager’s quest continues with an encounter.
“The goddess Nike, the goddess of victory associated with the ancient Olympic Games, appears as an entity taking on the features of the statue of the Victory of Samothrace displayed in the Louvre.
“A voice from the past resounds, reminding us of the creation of the modern Games at the end of the 19th century. The Olympic spirit awakens the histor y of the ancient stadium as the show moves on to the grandstands, where athletes painted on potteries come to life transforming into doves of peace”.
The stage is now full of these white-robed dancers, with some dropping from the roof.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments