Paris Olympics: A grand finale with a Hollywood twist

The Paris Olympics set a high bar with an opening ceremony that featured Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and a scenic backdrop showcasing virtually every Parisian landmark along the Seine. The closing ceremony, held on a blistering hot day in stark contrast to the rainy kickoff, promises to deliver a blockbuster show with a Hollywood twist.

A star-studded handover to Los Angeles

As part of the glitzy handover to Los Angeles, which will host the 2028 Summer Games, Tom Cruise is expected to wow audiences with epic stunts. The musical lineup includes performances by Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with H.E.R. singing the U.S. national anthem. Gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead will be the flag bearers for the United States, whose team topped the Paris Olympics with a whopping 126 medals, surpassing China, the U.K., and France. The host country broke a 100-year record with 64 medals, including 16 golds. Besides swimming champion Leon Marchand and judoka superstar Teddy Riner, the French women’s basketball team made Team France proud on the final day with a nail-biting game against Team USA, taking home the silver medal.

Celebrating French talent

Orchestrated by artistic director Thomas Jolly and executive director Thierry Reboul, the ceremony will also shine a spotlight on French talent with revered bands Phoenix and Air, as well as French-speaking Belgian pop star Angele.

Enhanced security measures

Unfolding days after a thwarted terrorist attack targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, the Paris Olympics closing ceremony is taking place under beefed-up security protocols involving thousands of police forces, including nearly 2,000 agents from overseas. As many as 71,538 spectators will attend, in addition to 8,200 athletes from over 200 delegations and 270 artists. Reboul mentioned that the organizers have spent an “incalculable” amount of time preparing an airtight security plan with local authorities. The country has been on high alert since the start of the war in Gaza last October.

Emotional moments and progressive messages

Aside from live music and stunts, the ceremony promises a few tear-jerking moments with winning athletes coming together one last time. Jolly, whose opening ceremony show received both praise and criticism for a scene that seemed to mock “The Last Supper,” has created an operatic and dystopian show highlighting the origins and values of the Olympics. Like the opening ceremony that celebrated love and inclusion, the closing bash will have a similarly progressive message. Reboul stated it will use science fiction to raise “awareness about the fact that our world is fragile and we need to preserve our values.”

Record-breaking attendance and iconic venues

As many as 9.5 million tickets were sold for the Olympics, with 62% bought by French people and the remainder by international visitors, led by the U.K., Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. 95% of all competitions took place at iconic Paris landmarks, including beach volleyball by the Eiffel Tower, drawing 450,000 spectators, including some famous faces like Nicole Kidman. The men’s and women’s cycling races across the streets of Paris were also standout events, gathering over 1 million people, according to organizers. The Stade de France was one of the few indoor locations for competitions, alongside Paris La Defense Arena and Bercy concert hall.

Highlights from the closing ceremony

Zaho de Sagazan kicks things off from the Tuileries Garden

Over at the Jardins des Tuileries, where the Olympic Cauldron — an air balloon lit by the Olympic Flame — is located, French singer-songwriter Zaho de Sagazan and the choir of the Académie Haendel-Hendrix opened the closing ceremony with a performance of Édith Piaf’s “Sous le Ciel de Paris.”

Dressed elegantly in a suit, French swimmer and Olympic breakout star Léon Marchand — who won four gold medals and one silver at the Games — then removed the lantern containing the flame from the cauldron and began carrying it to the Stade de France.

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Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.