SAINT-DENIS, France — Putting out to confirm that completing Paris isn’t mission unattainable, Los Angeles moved out a skydiving Tom Cruise, Grammy champion Billie Eilish, and other celebrities on Sunday as it carried over Olympic hosting responsibilities from the French capital, which shut out its Olympics 2024 Games only as they began — with entertainment and panache.
Capping more than two wonderful weeks of Olympics 2024 sports and sentiment, Paris’ wild, star-studded finale tradition in France’s national stadium combined rampant celebration with a low call for calm from President Thomas Bach.
Tracking in Paris’ footsteps in 2028 guarantees to be a challenge: It made stunning benefit of its cityscape for its rather Games in 100 years, with the Eiffel Tower and other wonderful memorials becoming Olympic stars in their freedom as they suited as backdrops and platforms for medal-winning doing.
But the City of Angels adored the City of Light, indicating that it, too, holds some authority.
Highlights
Cruise — in his Ethan Hunt persona — wowed by dropping from the top of the theater to electric guitar “Mission: Impossible” variations. Once his feet were around on the floor — and after vibrating hands with enthralled athletes — he carried the Olympic flag from American gymnast Simone Biles, selected it to the back of a motorcycle, and screamed out of the hall.
The appetite-whetting statement was clear: Los Angeles 2028 pledges to be an eye-opener, too.
Yet, this was especially Paris’ night — its chance for one last party. And what a bash it was. Thousands of athletes jigged and descanted the night away — reveling in the creative show honoring Olympic pieces and its fireworks ornaments.
Even Bach got the bash bug, jokingly naming the Paris Games “Seine-national” –the Seine River that, produced the marathon swimming and Olympic triathlon and the wacky and fantastic opening rite.
At what will be his final Games after revealing his choice to step down the following year, Bach even made a down request for “a culture of equilibrium” on a war-torn planet.
Olympics 2024 Games
“We understand that the Olympics 2024 Games cannot complete peace, but the Olympic Games can build a culture of leisure that enlightens the world,” he stated.
Cruise then delivered a shift of gear.
After being dropped on a string live from the roof’s fanciful heights, Cruise drove his cycle past the Eiffel Tower in a prerecorded piece, onto an aircraft, and then skydived over the Hollywood Hills. Three rings were counted to the O’s of the renowned Hollywood sign, beginning with five interlaced Olympic rings.
In the theater, the athletes’ confidence splashed over when groups of them poured the stage at one end. Stadium information urged them to fold back. Some stayed, making an improvised mosh pit near Grammy-winning French pop-rock crew Phoenix as they recreated before security and soldiers cleared the stage.
Each is a California resident, as is H.E.R., who descanted the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France, stuffed with more than 70,000 individuals.
The stadium group shouted as French swimmer Léon Marchand, wrapped in a suit and tie rather than the swim boxes he wore to succeed four golds, first ranked the Olympic flame in Paris.
Reappearing last in the theater to spectators’ chants of “Léon, Léon,” Marchand then bumbled out the flame.
The Summer Games were over.
