A musical and stunt-filled closing ceremony draws the curtain on the Paris Olympics (2024)

Updated August 11, 2024 at 20:11 PM ET

PARIS — With one last big exhale from French swimmer Léon Marchand, the Olympic flame in Paris is out.

The closing ceremony on Sunday drew the curtain on a historic two-plus week stretch of Olympic competition.

And historic it was. The Summer Games made novel use of the country’s iconic venues (the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais and The Palace of Versailles to name just a few). Meanwhile, American swimmer Katie Ledecky, who added four more medals to her overall total of 14, became the most decorated female Olympian, while Marchand showed the world he’s swimming’s next big thing. U.S. gymnasts, led by Simone Biles, got their redemption, and St. Lucia won its first ever medal — in the fastest track event no less.

The return of crowds boost Olympic spirit

More than 71,000 spectators packed into Stade de France, the country’s national stadium located north of Paris, for the closing bash for the first Olympics since COVID restrictions were completely lifted. The absence of any COVID protocols allowed athletes to enjoy the full energy of the crowd, but there were also infections.

The venue had transformed from a site of Olympic track and rugby events into a concert hall.

The program kicked off on a solemn note, with French singer Zaho de Sagazan, and a choir dressed in all black, gathered round the cauldron singing "Sous le ciel de Paris.” The tempo picked up with a lively orchestral set inside the stadium, where the traditional entrance of the flags and the parade of athletes from 205 delegations marched along a silver-colored stage of disjointed, shard-shaped platforms.

A musical and stunt-filled closing ceremony draws the curtain on the Paris Olympics (1)

Michael Reaves / Getty Images

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Getty Images

For the U.S., Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead were among the circle of flag bearers, while bronze-medalist pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis and artistic swimmer Evangelia Platanioti were seen waving the Greece flag. Team USA and Team China were seen standing next to each other, both singing along to “We Are The Champions” moments after the countries had tied in the gold medal count.

The festivities also included a medal ceremony for the top finishers of the women’s marathon that concluded earlier in the day. It was the first time the women's race has closed the Olympic Games. Gold medalist Dutch runner Sifan Hassan took the top of the podium after winning with an Olympic record time of 2:22:55. That’s after already clinching two bronze medals in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter race to run a total of 38 miles.

The moment was a nod to organizers’ goal of reaching full gender parity for the Paris Games. At the same time, it struck a dissonant chord alongside a Games that saw the targeting of female Algerian boxer Imane Khelif over her gender. In Paris, buoyed by fan support that outshouted the online attacks she faced, she went on to win gold. That wasn’t the only controversy. After a huge investment in cleaning up the Seine, the question of the waters’ daily safety kept swimmers on their toes.

A musical and stunt-filled closing ceremony draws the curtain on the Paris Olympics (2)

Michael Reaves / Getty Images

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Getty Images

The volunteers who helped the Paris Games run were also honored. The teal-uniformed crew ran the show behind the scenes — they combed the sand at the beach volleyball matches, swept the sweat from the basketball courts, and removed the hurdles from the Stade de France track.

A celebration of Olympics past and present

A particularly dramatic moment linked past and present Olympic history. As the stadium darkened, a mysterious gold creature descended from the sky — artistic director Thomas Jolly's so-named "The Golden Voyager" — and arrived in a science fiction world without an Olympics Games.

After an encounter with a statue of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, an excavation of the Olympics began – reviving the ancient Games in Greece 2,800 ago such as when Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the first modern Games, did it at the end of the 19th century, in Paris.

A hom*ogenous army of white-clad dancers that populated the desolate stage grew more animated and acrobatic, and soon their giant cirque du soleil-like steel rings were refashioned into the Olympic rings representing the five continents.

Phoenix, Air bring light to austere ceremony

With one signature synth-y intro of pop-rock band Phoenix’s hit track “Lisztomania,” we’d entered the 2000s. They played alongside French compatriots Air and electro house artist Kavinsky who performed “Nightcall.” Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig also joined the musical act.

A Hollywood handoff from Paris to Los Angeles

The arrival of Tom Cruise signaled a not-so-traditional handoff of the Olympic flag to the next host city: Los Angeles. The actor — known for doing his own stunt work in the Mission Impossible films — rappelled from the edge of the open-air stadium down to the stage to accept the flag from Simone Biles. In a pre-taped video, he traversed Paris via motorcycle and then, as a skydiver, descended on the Hollywood sign (with the double-Os now dressed as the bottommost Olympic rings).

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg take the concert to LA

A musical and stunt-filled closing ceremony draws the curtain on the Paris Olympics (3)

Julie Sebadehla / AFP via Getty Images

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AFP via Getty Images

Copyright 2024 NPR

A musical and stunt-filled closing ceremony draws the curtain on the Paris Olympics (2024)

FAQs

What happens at the closing ceremony of the Olympics? ›

The Olympic flag is lowered, handed to the host city's mayor for a final wave and then to the president of the International Olympic Committee to give it to the mayor of the next host city.

Who performed at the Olympics closing ceremony in Paris? ›

The closing ceremony for the Paris Olympics brought out several stars, including Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg. H.E.R. and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Dr Dre shocked fans with a surprise appearance alongside Snoop dOGG, that many said “saved” the “arty” display in Paris, with the colourful celebration on Venice Beach, LA.

Who played at the closing ceremony of the Olympics? ›

Snoop, Dr. Dre, Billie Eilish & Red Hot!

Billie Eilish performed “Birds of a Feather” from her third studio album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Red Hot Chili Peppers performed the 2003 jam “Can't Stop.”

Who sang in the closing ceremony? ›

Dre, Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers. PARIS -- Paris has closed out two and a half extraordinary weeks of Olympic sports and emotion with a star-studded show in France's national stadium and from Long Beach in Southern California.

What happens in a closing ceremony? ›

For starters, the Closing Ceremony begins with the Parade of Flags, in which athletes from each nation walk with their flag into the stadium. Traditionally, the Greek flag leads the procession and the host country brings up the rear, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Who sang "My Way" at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics? ›

French singer-songwriter Yseult had her fill at the Paris Olympics' Closing Ceremony where she performed a stellar rendition of Frank Sinatra's iconic "My Way" in front of the world.

Who is singing "My Way" at the Olympics closing ceremony? ›

Yseult's Rendition of My Way at Olympics Closing Ceremony Was Mesmerizing. French singer and model Yseult said it was an "honor" to close out the 2024 Paris Olympics with one final hauntingly beautiful song.

How long is the closing ceremony? ›

The actual ceremony will start at 3 p.m. ET, and an encore telecast will play for U.S. viewers during prime time. The ceremony is expected to last a little over two hours. A broadcast about the 2028 Games will air at 10 p.m. ET.

Who is performing at the Olympics closing ceremony in 2024? ›

Variety reported that the segment, titled the LA28 Handover Celebration, would feature performances by American artists and Los Angeles County natives Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, H.E.R., and Billie Eilish, and include a live stadium appearance by American actor Tom Cruise.

Where is the closing ceremony in Paris? ›

The Stade de France closing ceremony was also a feat of logistics – rehearsals had taken place between 1am and 5am between athletics sessions at the stadium. Some in the ceremony's creative team, including the director Jolly, were under special protection because of online death threats after the opening ceremony.

Who directed the closing ceremony? ›

The Ceremonies Artistic Director for the Paris Games was Thomas Jolly, a French actor and director.

Who performed at the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony? ›

On This Day, Aug. 12, 2012: Queen, The Who & more perform at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor, The Who and The Kinks' Ray Davies were among the artists who performed at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, held at Olympic Stadium.

Who performed at the Paris closing ceremony? ›

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg perform from the LA beaches. From the beaches of LA, the Red Hot Chili Peppers rocked out surrounded by giant sandcastles and a cheering crowd. Nearby, Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas, stood on a stage that resembled a pier and performed "Birds of a Feather."

Who sang the US anthem at Paris' closing ceremony? ›

Closing Ceremony: H.E.R. performs the U.S. national anthem.

What band is playing the closing ceremony? ›

2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony: Billie Eilish Brings 'Birds of a Feather,' Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Deliver 'The Next Episode' & More. Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg with Dr. Dre and the Red Hot Chili Peppers entertained for the closing celebration of the Olympics, which will next be hosted in Los Angeles.

How do they end the Olympics? ›

Other traditional elements include a parade of flags, a parade of athletes and the handover of the Olympic flag to a representative of the city hosting the Olympics in four years: in this case, Los Angeles. Some final medals are also given out during the closing ceremony. At the end, the Olympic flame is extinguished.

What happens to the Olympic flame during the closing ceremonies? ›

A portion of the closing ceremony is dedicated to the host city handover from Paris to Los Angeles, in which Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo will give the Olympic flag to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Some final medals are often handed out during the closing ceremony. The Olympic flame is extinguished.

Are the Olympic closing ceremonies live? ›

Viewers in the United States can watch the closing ceremony live on NBC and Peaco*ck (with a prime-time replay at 7 p.m.).

References

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