Paris Aug. 12—The Paris 2024 Olympic games sensationally closed last night with Hollywood star Tom Cruise abseiled from the roof of the Stade de France drawing gasps from spectators as Paris bade farewell to an Olympics hailed as one of the most successful.
Cruise descended on a wire in front of 71,500 people, grabbed the Olympic flag and jumped on a motorbike, to the delight of athletes and fans.
Actor Tom Cruise descended from the roof of the stadium to collect the Olympic flag, before departing on a motorcycle to begin its journey across the Atlantic to Los Angeles
In a preview of what the world can expect when the next event is held in Los Angeles in 2028, the 62-year-old Mission Impossible star was then shown on a screen boarding a plane and skydiving 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 an LA beach framed by the Pacific Ocean.
The closing spectacle marked the beginning of the four-year countdown to the LA Games, and American gymnastics icon Simone Biles joined Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as the Olympic flag was formally handed over.
Earlier, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach described the Paris Games as “sport at its best”.
IOC President Thomas Bach and the French President Emmanuel Macron at the closing of the Paris 2024 Olympics
“These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish,” Bach said. “Or dare I say: Seine-sational Games,” the IOC chief quipped about the Seine River where the opening ceremony unfolded and the triathlon and marathon swimming events took place.
At what will be Bach’s last games after announcing his intention to step down next year, the IOC chief also called for “a culture of peace” in a war-torn world.
“We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace, but the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world,” he said. “Let us live this culture of peace every single day.”
About 9,000 athletes danced and sang the night away during the closing ceremony, which was billed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport.
The ceremony followed 17 days of frequently breathtaking sporting action set against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Chateau de Versailles.
In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony, Sunday’s celebration in the national stadium began as a golden sunset bathed the French capital.
China and the United States battled for the top spot up until the final day when the US women’s basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of Paris 2024.
The win, the eighth consecutive Olympic women’s basketball title for the US, gave the country its fourth gold, the same as China. The US topped the medal table, however, because it had more silver and medals.
In total United States finished on top with 126 medals, 40 Gold, 44 silver and 42 Bronze followed by China with 91 medals, 40 Gold, 27 Silver and 24 Bronz while Uganda was 55th with two medals, 1 Gold and 1 silver.
Kenya led Africa with 11 medals, 4 Gold, 2 Silve and 5 Bronz, South Africa was second with 6 medals, 1 Gold 3 Silver and 2 Bronz. Ethiopia was third with 4 medals, 1 Gold and 3 Silver.
