August 11th 2024.
Paris is coming to the end of an incredible two and a half weeks filled with Olympic sports and intense emotions. The grand finale is taking place in France's national stadium, where a star-studded and lively show is being put on to officially hand over the hosting duties for the Summer Games to the next city in line: Los Angeles in 2028.
There was much speculation surrounding Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who had been spotted around town during the final weekend. Many wondered if he would make an appearance in the closing ceremony, which was blessed with hot weather unlike the rain-soaked opening ceremony on July 26th.
As French President Emmanuel Macron and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach took their seats, the ceremony began with a powerful rendition of "Under the Skies of Paris," a song previously sung by the beloved Edith Piaf and other renowned artists. The crowd in the stadium erupted with cheers as French swimmer Léon Marchand, dressed in a suit and tie instead of his usual swim trunks, was shown on the giant screens collecting the Olympic flame from the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. This flame, which had been powered by electricity instead of fossil fuels, had lit up the city every night and was a source of great excitement for the crowds as it rose into the sky on a balloon.
For the next host city, Los Angeles, the bar has been set incredibly high by Paris. The French capital made stunning use of its iconic landmarks, with the Eiffel Tower and others becoming Olympic stars in their own right as they served as backdrops and even venues for some competitions. However, Los Angeles is bringing its own star power to the table with performances by artists such as Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers scheduled for Sunday's handover from the City of Light to the City of Angels.
The lineup of music artists also includes California natives, including H.E.R. who is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France. The stadium, which hosted Olympic track and field and rugby sevens, is expected to be filled with over 70,000 people.
As the night fell, athletes from 205 countries and territories marched into the stadium, proudly waving their flags. This display of global unity was a powerful reminder in a world that is often plagued by tensions and conflicts. The screens in the stadium displayed the words "Together, united for peace." With all 329 medal events now finished, the approximately 9,000 athletes, many wearing their shiny medals, and their team members danced and cheered to the thumping beats.
The Stade de France, France's largest stadium, was one of the targets of the horrific terrorist attacks that took place in Paris on November 13, 2015. The joy and celebrations that swept the city during these Games, as French athletes like Marchand won a total of 64 medals, including 16 gold, marked a significant turning point in the city's recovery from that tragic night.
The closing ceremony will also see the final medals being awarded, each one containing a piece of the Eiffel Tower. In a fitting tribute to the first Olympics that strived for gender equality, all of these medals will be presented to women, including the winners of the women's marathon that took place earlier on Sunday. The race was won by Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, and it replaced the traditional men's race that typically closed out previous Olympics. In Paris, the men's race was moved to the final Saturday, with Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola taking home the gold.
This change was just one of the ways that Paris aimed to shine a brighter spotlight on the incredible sporting achievements of women. It was also in Paris where women made their Olympic debut back in 1900.
The U.S. team once again topped the medal table with a total of 126 medals, including 40 gold. Three of these medals were won by gymnast Simone Biles, who made a triumphant return to the Olympic podium after prioritizing her mental health over competition in Tokyo in 2021.
After the controversy that surrounded the opening ceremony, which was criticized by former U.S. President Donald Trump, French bishops, and others for supposedly making fun of Christianity, all eyes were on the closing ceremony to see if artistic director Thomas Jolly had any more surprises up his sleeve. Jolly and other members of his creative team even filed police complaints over death threats and online abuse aimed at them and some of the performers in the opening show.
Many jumped to the conclusion that a segment featuring drag queens and a DJ who is an LGBTQ+ icon was meant to parody Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting, "The Last Supper." However, Jolly and his team repeatedly stated that this was never their intention and received support from Macron, who was "outraged and saddened" by the backlash.
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