Paris concluded its record-breaking Olympic Games with a stunning, futuristic closing ceremony at the Stade de France, featuring Hollywood star Tom Cruise and a message of unity and peace. The night opened with a golden, intergalactic traveler navigating a dystopian landscape to reignite the Olympic spirit. A breathtaking performance by French singer Yseult, acrobats descending from the stadium roof, and a dramatic, pyrotechnic show captivated the 70,000 spectators.
The ceremony celebrated the importance of the Games in a divided world, with IOC President Thomas Bach highlighting sport’s role in promoting peace. Tom Cruise, who abseiled into the stadium and whisked the Olympic flag away on a motorbike, set the stage for the next Games in Los Angeles.
The show also honored women in sports, awarding the women’s marathon medals during the event, a historic first. The ceremony was a powerful conclusion to Paris’s ambitious Games, which sought to bring sport into the heart of the city and inspire future hosts.
