PARIS — The Olympic flame in Paris extinguished with a final breath from French swimmer Léon Marchand, marking the end of a historic closing ceremony on Sunday that concluded over two weeks of Olympic competition.
This year’s Summer Games were particularly notable for their innovative use of iconic French locations, including the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles. American swimmer Katie Ledecky solidified her legacy by adding four medals to her total, making her the most decorated female Olympian in history. Marchand emerged as a standout talent in swimming, while Simone Biles and the U.S. gymnastics team redeemed themselves after previous struggles. St. Lucia celebrated its first-ever Olympic medal in the sprinting events.
A vibrant crowd of more than 71,000 gathered at Stade de France, the national stadium just outside Paris, for the lively closing program, the first held without COVID restrictions since the pandemic. This allowed for an energetic atmosphere, although some participants still faced infections.
The ceremony began solemnly, featuring French singer Zaho de Sagazan and a choir in black, who performed “Sous le ciel de Paris.” The mood shifted as an orchestral performance filled the stadium, leading to the parade of athletes from 205 delegations across a uniquely designed silver stage.
Flag bearers included Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead from the U.S., while Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis and Evangelia Platanioti represented their country. A moment of camaraderie was seen as Team USA and Team China stood together singing “We Are The Champions” after both countries tied in gold medals.
The closing event also wrapped up with a medal ceremony for the women’s marathon, which for the first time concluded the Olympic Games. Dutch runner Sifan Hassan took gold with an Olympic record time of 2:22:55, adding to her achievements from earlier events. This moment highlighted the organizers’ efforts to achieve gender parity at the Paris Games, despite controversies—including the treatment of female athlete Imane Khelif and concerns over the cleanliness of the Seine River post-sanitation efforts.
Volunteers, clad in teal uniforms, were acknowledged for their crucial behind-the-scenes contributions that ensured the games ran smoothly.
A theatrical presentation connected past and present moments in Olympic history, featuring “The Golden Voyager,” an artistic piece that symbolized the revival of the ancient Games in Greece. Dancers transformed the stage into a vibrant display, culminating in the formation of the Olympic rings.
The ceremony brought a modern touch with performances from popular French musicians like Phoenix, Air, and Kavinsky, including Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig.
In a memorable handoff to the next Olympic host city, Los Angeles, Tom Cruise rappelled onto the stage from the stadium’s edge to accept the Olympic flag from Simone Biles. In a pre-recorded segment, Cruise navigated through Paris on a motorcycle and skydived onto the Hollywood sign, which was creatively styled to resemble the Olympic rings.
The celebration concluded in Los Angeles with mountain biker Kate Courtney carrying the flag to four-time Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson, who paraded it through the city. The Red Hot Chili Peppers launched a concert at Venice Beach featuring Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg, marking a vibrant transition to the next Olympic Games.