Paris to Dazzle with Star-Studded Finale at 2024 Olympics

Unlike the rain-drenched opening ceremony, the city is basking in sunny, hot weather.

SAINT-DENIS, France — Paris is concluding two and a half weeks of Olympic sports with a grand closing ceremony in France’s national stadium. Los Angeles will take over hosting duties for the next Summer Games in 2028.

Speculation persisted that Hollywood star Tom Cruise might make an appearance at the closing ceremony, capitalizing on the sunny, hot weather that contrasted sharply with the rainy July 26 opening event.

French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach were present as the ceremony began with a singer performing “Under the skies of Paris” — a classic song made famous by Edith Piaf.

The crowd cheered as French swimmer Léon Marchand, wrapped in a suit and tie, was shown on the giant screens collecting the Olympic flame from the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. Powered by electricity, the Olympic cauldron had floated into the sky every night, illuminating the city and thrilling onlookers.

Los Angeles faces a monumental task to surpass Paris. The French capital dazzled with its historical cityscape, utilizing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower for various events.

Los Angeles is also bringing star power: Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are set to perform in the handover ceremony from Paris to the City of Angels.

Among the performers, H.E.R. is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France. The venue, which hosted track and field and rugby sevens, is expected to fill over 70,000 seats.

The stadium was one of the sites targeted by Islamic State gunmen in 2015. The joy and celebrations during the Games, as Marchand and other French athletes garnered 64 medals, symbolized significant progress in the city’s recovery.

The closing ceremony will also witness the awarding of the last medals, each embedded with a piece of the Eiffel Tower, to the winners of the women’s marathon. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands emerged victorious in the race, which highlighted efforts to emphasize female athletes.

The U.S. team led the medal count once again with 126 medals, 40 of which are gold. Simone Biles returned triumphantly, securing three golds after prioritizing her mental health during the 2021 Tokyo Games.

The closing ceremony is under close scrutiny after the opening event faced backlash, including from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Jolly and his creative team received death threats following a segment involving drag queens and an LGBTQ+ icon, which critics believed parodied “The Last Supper.”

Such controversies have not deterred artistic director Thomas Jolly and his team. They’ve maintained that there was no intention to mock religious sentiments, receiving support from Macron, who expressed his sadness over the backlash.