The Bright and Sunny Closing Ceremony of the Paris Olympics
Unlike the rain-drenched opening ceremony, the city is basking in sunny, hot weather. Paris is closing out two and a half extraordinary weeks of Olympic sports and emotion with a star-studded sunset show in France’s national stadium, handing over hosting duties for the Summer Games to Los Angeles in 2028.
Speculation was rife that Hollywood star Tom Cruise — seen around town during the final weekend — would feature in the closing ceremony, which unlike the rain-drenched July 26 opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games, is enjoying sunny, hot weather.
Shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach had taken their seats, the ceremony opened with a singer belting out “Under the skies of Paris” — sung in the past by Edith Piaf and others.
For Los Angeles, topping Paris could be a tough task as the French capital made spectacular use of its cityscape for its first Games in 100 years. The Eiffel Tower and other iconic monuments became Olympic stars in their own right, serving as backdrops and in some cases venues for competitions.
But Los Angeles is bringing star power of its own: singer Billie Eilish, rapper and Paris Olympics mainstay Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are scheduled to perform as part of the handover from the City of Light to the City of Angels.
The U.S. team again topped the medal table with 126 in all and 40 of them gold. Three were courtesy of gymnast Simone Biles, who made a resounding return to the top of the Olympic podium after prioritizing her mental health instead of competition in Tokyo in 2021.
Following controversy that enveloped the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony was being closely watched to see whether artistic director Thomas Jolly had any more surprises in store. Critics jumped to the conclusion that a segment featuring drag queens and a DJ who is also an LGBTQ+ icon had parodied “The Last Supper,” but Jolly and his team repeatedly insisted that was never their intention.
With the sunny weather setting the stage for a memorable closing ceremony, the Paris Olympics bid adieu with a mix of sports, music, and celebration, paving the way for Los Angeles to take on the torch in 2028.