PARIS: Hollywood star Tom Cruise abseiled from the roof of the Stade de France on Sunday in Paris’ farewell to the Olympics, considered one of the most successful in history.
In front of 71,500 spectators, Cruise swooped down on the wire, grabbed the Olympic flag and hopped on a motorcycle to the delight of athletes and fans alike.
In a preview of what the world can expect when the games head to Los Angeles in 2028, the ‘Mission Impossible’ star was shown boarding a plane and parachuting into the Californian city before adorning the iconic Hollywood sign with the Olympic rings.
Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer Billie Eilish and rappers Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre then performed a mini-concert on the beach framed by the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The final spectacle marked the start of the four-year countdown to the LA Games, with US gymnastics icon Simone Biles joining Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the formal presentation of the Olympic flag.
Earlier, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the Paris Games were “sport at its best”.
“It was a sensational Olympics from start to finish,” Bach said. “Or dare I say: Seine-sational Games,” the IOC chief joked, punning on the river that runs through Paris, which was the setting for the opening ceremony.
“Dear French friends, you fell in love with the Olympics. And we fell in love with all of you,” Bach added.
Some 9,000 athletes invaded the stadium to be entertained by 270 artists and performers in a ceremony hailed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport.
“We knew you would be brilliant, but you were a magician,” Paris 2024 chief organizer Tony Estanguet told the athletes. “You made us happy, you made us feel alive – the world needed this moment so much.”
Party of athletes
The ceremony began when French swimming hero Leon Marchand – winner of four gold medals at the Games – picked up the Olympic flame from a cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens and made its way to the stadium.
Local rugby hero Antoine Dupont – who led the host nation to a rugby sevens gold medal in one of the Games’ first highlights – carried the French flag into the stadium as the cheering athletes thronged the pitch.
The ceremony followed 17 days of often breathtaking sporting action against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Palace of Versailles.
In contrast to a rain-soaked opening ceremony, Sunday’s festivities began as a golden sunset bathed the French capital.
The final day of sporting action saw the United States pip China for first place in the medal race after the US basketball team pushed past France 67-66 to claim the final gold of the Games.
The win – the eighth straight Olympic women’s basketball title won by the US – ensured the Americans finished level with China with 40 golds each.
However, the USA finished atop the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place with 91.
Marathon magic
Sunday began with a thrilling women’s marathon victory by Dutch long-distance running star Sifan Hassan.
Hassan took what many considered a crazy gamble in Paris, competing in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon.
However, Hassan overcame Ethiopia’s Tigst Assef in a thrilling sprint to take the gold by three seconds in an Olympic record time of 2hrs 22mins 55secs.
She dropped to the ground on the blue carpet outside the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex in the heart of Paris before grabbing the Dutch flag to celebrate the extraordinary achievement.
Hassan was presented with a gold medal at the closing ceremony.
