Goodnight Paris, Good Morning Los Angeles!
Paris officially passed the Olympic flag to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, setting the stage for the next Games in 2028 during a spectacular closing ceremony.
The Closing Ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games concluded with grandeur. It began with the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron and IOC President Thomas Bach. The French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” was performed by the Orchester Divertimento under the baton of conductor Zahia Ziouani, as the French flag was raised inside the Stade de France.
Unlike the Opening Ceremony (July 26), which was the first in history to be held outside a stadium along the Seine River with a nautical parade of athletes, yesterday’s (August 11) Closing Ceremony—after 35 days of rehearsals—returned to the traditional setting of a stadium, specifically the “Stade de France.” This was a stark contrast to the vibrant pop and queer spirit of the Opening Ceremony.
The entrance of Platanioti and Karalis
Shorter than the Opening Ceremony, the Closing Ceremony commenced at 10:00 PM and concluded just after 1:00 AM. Athletes made their way back into the stadium, with the Greek team—traditionally—entering first, led by flag bearers Evangelia Platanióti and Manolis Karalís.
A total of 206 flag bearers from the participating Olympic delegations, along with those from the Olympic Refugee Team, entered the stadium, parading on a stage symbolically representing a flat circle. Nine thousand athletes and their companions gathered in the center of the field as the stars of the program.
“Under the Paris sky”
The ceremony opened with images of Paris, the Opening Ceremony, and highlights from the Games, accompanied by the song “Under the Paris Sky” performed by Zaho de Sagazan, with the Handel-Hendrix Academy Choir in the Tuileries Garden, where the hot air balloon with the Olympic Flame was stationed.
The olympic cauldron was extinguished as swimmer Léon Marchand took hold of the lantern containing the olympic flame.
Léon Marchand, the “king” of swimming at Paris 2024 with five medals, four of them gold, dressed in a suit, was tasked with bringing the Olympic Flame into the stadium from the heart of the Louvre. As soon as the French swimmer took the lantern with the Olympic Flame, the cauldron stopped glowing, only to reignite for the Paralympic Games (August 28 – September 8).
Women’s marathon medal ceremony
Following the athletes’ entrance from all Olympic delegations and the playing of iconic songs, IOC President Thomas Bach and World Athletics President Sebastian Coe awarded medals to the top three women in the Marathon event.
Tribute to the volunteers
Next came the entrance of representatives for the volunteers of the Paris Games. The volunteers were evenly split between men and women, with 20% coming from 150 different countries.
They received thanks from the new members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission: Allyson Felix (USA, Track and Field), Kim Bui (Germany, Gymnastics), Jessica Fox (Australia, Canoe), and Marcus Daniell (New Zealand, Tennis), whose terms will end at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
It was a moment when the spotlight turned on the volunteers before the stadium was engulfed in darkness.
The “Golden Explorer,” the Greek flag, and the National Anthem
The “Stade de France” was plunged into darkness to begin the performance named “Records,” transporting spectators and viewers into another world, led by the character known as the “Golden Explorer.”
Dressed entirely in gold by young Swiss designer Kevin Germanier, the role was performed by French breakdancer Arthur Cadre. Descending from the stadium roof, the “Golden Explorer,” inspired by various elements from French historical heritage, starting with the genius of the Bastille, as well as creatures from science fiction and video games, was handed the Greek flag to the sound of the Greek national anthem.
“As ancient Greece was a place of discovery for Pierre de Coubertin and his collaborators when they rediscovered and revived the Olympic Games. This is how our story was born, our character helped other explorers awaken the remnants of the Games and rebuild them, because one day humanity created this monument, and it deserves to be kept alive. Then the title of the ceremony appeared: Records, with the honorary meaning of athletic achievements,” the organizers stated.
All this happened before the impressive reveal of the …Winged Victory of Samothrace statue!
Excerpts from the Paris Olympic Congress at the Sorbonne
Following this, excerpts were heard from the Paris Olympic Congress for the revival of the Olympic Games, held on June 16, 1894, at the Sorbonne, initiated by Pierre de Coubertin, and from the announcement of the International Olympic Committee in October 1894:
“The Olympic Games will be international competitions, truly global championships, in which all sports and physical exercises practiced today will be represented, as in the Olympiads of Ancient Greece.
We want to take from this model of the old games of Olympia the dual principle of federation and periodicity. They will be held in Athens in 1896, in Paris in 1900, and then every four years in various capitals of the universe.
We will also remember that by virtue of a law always observed with religious devotion, the Olympic Games era was a time of sacred truce for all Greeks.
Let us gather the different nations for the friendly contests of sports, and may the faithful adherence to the rules governing our games open their souls to that sense of mutual respect, which is the first foundation for maintaining peace among nations!”
The party begins
The athletes cleared the stage to make way for the French band Phoenix, kicking off the party with a spectacular light and sound show. Belgian singer Angèle then joined Phoenix, followed by Kaminsky, Air, and Wanda. An American touch was added by Ezra Koenig, with images of the Olympic Flame’s impressive journey, which began on April 16 in Ancient Olympia, playing in the background.
The costumes worn by performers, acrobats, and dancers, entirely recycled by Kevin Germanier (except for the stars’ outfits dressed by sponsor Dior), were in a palette of gold, black, and sequins.
The Divertimento Symphony Orchestra, with the students of the Fontainebleau master’s program, was responsible for the musical accompaniment.
The six athlete representatives from the five continents and refugees
From the party and music, it was time for speeches. Paris 2024 Organizing Committee President Tony Estanguet and IOC President Thomas Bach took the stage with six athletes representing the five continents and the Olympic Refugee Team.
- Cindy Ngaba – Boxing, bronze medalist, representing the Olympic Refugee Team
- Sun Yingsha – Table Tennis, three gold medals, two silver medals, representing Asia
- Eliud Kipchoge – Marathon, two gold medals, one silver medal, one bronze medal, representing Africa
- Mijaín López – Wrestling, five gold medals, representing the Americas
- Teddy Riner – Judo, five gold medals, two bronze medals, representing Europe
- Emma McKeon – Swimming, six gold medals, three silver medals, five bronze medals, representing Oceania
Speeches by Tony Estanguet and Thomas Bach
Tony Estanguet: “To you, athletes, what can I say? We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magical. You made us happy, you made us feel alive. On behalf of billions of people who love sports across the five continents, thank you very much. We will reunite at LA28, and the Games will continue to grow.”
Thomas Bach: “Despite all the tensions in our world, you came here from 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team to make the City of Light shine brighter than ever before. Your performances were amazing. You competed fiercely against each other. Every contest was near perfection. Every performance sparked excitement worldwide. You showed us the greatness we humans are capable of. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were a celebration of athletes and sport at its best. The first Olympic Games held fully within the framework of our Olympic Agenda reforms: younger, more urban, more inclusive, more sustainable. The first Olympic Games with full gender equality. These were stunning Olympic Games from start to finish—or dare I say: Olympic Games of the Seine.”
A thought for Greece
It is worth noting that during the live coverage by the French newspaper L’Équipe, during Thomas Bach’s speech, the following was written: “A thought for Greece. We don’t want to spoil the party, but…the Greek authorities tonight ordered the evacuation of the town of Marathon, near Athens, due to wildfires. A sad symbolism as these Games come to an end…”
The Olympic Anthem
This was followed by the Olympic Anthem, composed for the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 by Corfiot composer Spyridon Samaras, with lyrics by Kostis Palamas.
“O Ancient Spirit immortal, pure father of the beautiful, the great and the true,
Descend, appear, and sparkle over here to the glory of thine own earth and heaven.At running and at wrestling and at throwing, shine in the momentum of noble contests,
and crown with the unfading branch, and make the body worthy and ironlike.Plains, mountains and seas shine with thee like a great white-purple temple.
And thy pilgrim is running to this here temple, O Ancient Spirit immortal, of every people.”
The handover to Los Angeles and Tom Cruise
The handover ceremony for the Olympic Games officially took place in Los Angeles, the city set to host the 34th Summer Games in 2028, 44 years after the 1984 Olympics.
As tradition dictates, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, symbolically handed over the Olympic flag to IOC President Thomas Bach, who then passed it to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Bass, the first Black mayor of the city, received the flag accompanied by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.
Immediately following the handover, a twelve-minute performance began, directed by British producer and director Ben Winston, who at 42 years old has already won 13 Emmy Awards in his career.
Singer Gabriella Wilson, known as H.E.R., performed the American national anthem. Then, in a new “Mission: Impossible” stunt, Tom Cruise jumped from the top of the stadium to retrieve the Olympic flag and, riding a motorcycle, began the journey to Los Angeles. A video showcased the Hollywood star passing through iconic Paris landmarks, parachuting to Hollywood before handing over the flag to other famous athletes, including Kate Courtney, Michael Johnson, and Jagger Eaton.
The extinguishing of the Olympic Flame
All this led up to the grand finale. Léon Marchand arrived at the Stade de France carrying the Olympic flame. With six athletes representing the five continents and refugees, alongside Marchand, Thomas Bach officially declared the end of the Olympic Games. The athletes blew out the Olympic flame, signaling the countdown to Los Angeles.
“In accordance with tradition, I invite the youth of the world to gather four years from now in Los Angeles, United States of America, to celebrate the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad with us,” said the IOC President.
The countdown to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles has already begun. The ceremony concluded with the classic Frank Sinatra song “My Way,” originally based on the French song “Comme d’habitude,” performed by French artist Yseult. The night ended with a spectacular fireworks display over the Stade de France.
The 34th Olympic Games will take place from July 14 to 30, 2028, in Los Angeles.
