Paris 2024 Olympics Closed, Tom Cruise Becomes Symbol of LA 2028 Olympics

Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – The closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics was held at the Stade de France Stadium, North Paris, on Sunday (11/8/2024) evening local time or Monday (12/8/2024) early morning WIB.

The event marked the end of the Olympics and symbolized the beginning of preparations for the upcoming Los Angeles (LA) 2028 Olympics. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise was in the spotlight at the event.

In a scene reminiscent of his action in the film Mission ImpossibleTom Cruise, who plays the character Ethan Hunt, performs a stunt jumping from the top of the Stade de France Stadium with the help of a steel sling.

After that, he went down to the stadium to get the Olympic flag. Tom then carried the flag on a motorbike, greeted by cheers from the athletes and spectators present.

A pre-recorded video segment shows Tom Cruise riding his motorcycle through the streets of Paris before flying to Los Angeles and parachuting. In the video, Tom is also seen decorating the iconic Hollywood sign with the Olympic rings.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach praised the Paris Olympics as the embodiment of sport at its best.

“It was an extraordinary Olympics from start to finish,” Bach was quoted as saying by AFP. He also added jokingly, “I dare say, this is a Seine-sational Olympics,” referring to the Seine River that runs through Paris, where the opening ceremony took place.

Bach also added, “Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games, and we have fallen in love with you all.”

Some 9,000 athletes gathered in the stadium to watch a grand closing ceremony featuring performances by 270 international artists. Paris 2024 Organizing Chief Tony Estanguet also paid tribute to the athletes.

“We knew you were going to be great, but you were truly magical. You made us happy, you made us feel alive, the world needed this moment so badly,” he said.

The closing ceremony opened with French swimming hero Leon Marchand extinguishing the Olympic flame after winning four gold medals, then carrying a flaming lantern towards the Stade de France.

French rugby hero Antoine Dupont, who led the home team to gold, carried the French flag into the stadium, amidst other athletes.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be held from July 14 to 30, 2028 with various competition arenas spread throughout Los Angeles and several in Oklahoma City, United States.