SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — The 2024 Olympics closed Sunday with an elaborate closing ceremony at the Stade de France just north of Paris.
It’s not a closing ceremony without one last fireworks display
Fireworks are going off atop the stadium to give the Paris Olympics a grand finale. And now Yseult hits her finale. And that’s a wrap on the 2024 Olympics.
‘My Way’ was adapted from a French song
Yseult, a French R&B singer, performed ‘Comme d’habitude,’ the song famously adapted into ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra.
Yseult sends us out with ‘My Way’
The lights dimmed once more as singer Yseult serenaded the stadium singing Frank Sinatra’s classic “My Way.”
Dupont hands over French flag to Paralympian
Antoine Dupont, the French rugby star and one of the two flag bearers for France during the closing ceremony, passed the French flag to Nantenin Keita, a Paralympic track and field runner. This handover symbolizes the transition from the Olympics to the Paralympics.
JUST IN: The Olympic flame goes out in Paris, officially ending the 2024 Games as Los Angeles takes over for 2028 Many fans have already headed for the exits
Streams of people are now leaving — so many that a bridge leading away the stadium is shaking.
Meanwhile in Paris…
In an abrupt transition from the party on-screen in LA back to the floor in Stade de France, the Olympic torch was carefully brought on stage by Léon Merchand as athletes rushed back toward the center of the stadium.
Fans have greeted him with chants of “Léon! Léon!”
Snoop Dogg has the mic
Although he was in Paris for the duration of the 2024 Games, Snoop Dogg is performing his iconic “Drop it Like It’s Hot” from LA on the big screen. He’s from Long Beach, California.
And now Dr. Dre is on the stage with him.
From RHCP to Billie Eilish
The vibe is now set to classic Americana.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed along on a beach on LA’s famous coastline. Palm trees are gently swaying in the background, the sun is shining bright. It’s all eyes ahead to 2028.
And now Billie Eilish is performing.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are rocking in Venice — and in France
Fans in the Stade de France are being treated to a performance from the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing “Can’t Stop” on the beach in Los Angeles.
Even though it’s only appearing on the jumbotrons, members of the audience are dancing and cheering
Red Hot Chili Peppers are playing, and now we’re in LA
The show has left Paris and is now in Los Angeles, with Michael Johnson grabbing the flag and running through the streets.
Some details on Tom Cruise’s Olympic stunt
The black wire cables above the stadium have revealed their purpose: to safely bring Tom Cruise from the heavens to the stadium floor. In true Hollywood fashion, the actor, rocking a black leather jacket, descended from the roof of the stadium to grab hold of the Olympic flag. A motorcycle waited for him on the stadium floor and he rode out.
Tom Cruise has the Olympic flag
No stunt man needed: It was Tom Cruise doing it himself, landing and being greeted by athletes, some taking selfies and one even kissing him on the cheek.
He ran on stage and took the Olympic flag from Biles, and now he’s off.
Tom Cruise is here and atop the stadium
Tom Cruise is rappelling down from the roof of the stadium to the field.
Simone Biles holds the Olympic flag while H.E.R. performs
LA mayor Karen Bass gave the Olympic flag to Simone Biles to hold as H.E.R. sang the U.S. national anthem.
The Olympic flag is LA-bound
From the City of Love to the The City of Dreams and Hollywood: The Olympic flag is officially being handed over to the next host city. Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games in 2028.
Biles is there — and in a walking boot
Simone Biles is wearing a boot on her left foot while walking with L.A. mayor Karen Bass.
We’ve hit the 2 1/2-hour mark, and a preview of LA 2028 is up next
Some athletes rose from laying on the floor as speeches came to a close. The closing ceremony is now at the two-and-a-half-hour mark and the stadium is on its feet for the Olympic Anthem.
Bach calls for ‘culture of peace’
IOC President Thomas Bach calls to carry a “culture of peace” after the Olympic Games. It comes amid soaring global tensions, some which has permeated the Games.
Ukrainians and Palestinians have used the Games to raise attention to their causes. Afghan women have used them to call for freedom amid a clampdown by the Taliban. Meanwhile, Israel’s team has faced jeering and threats as it grows more isolated on a global stage.
While leaders often call for the Olympics to be apolitical, a gathering of countries across the world has been anything but.
What’s up with all the Olympic marriage proposals?
Several athletes offered up or received and accepted marriage proposals during the Olympic Games.
French runner Alice Finot proposed to her boyfriend with an Olympic pin after her steeplechase race.
“Since he hadn’t done it yet, I thought maybe it was up to me,” she said.
China badminton player Huang Ya Qiong celebrated with gold and diamonds after her boyfriend proposed to her following her win.
Video screens are helping translate Estanguet’s speech — including in sign language
Along with subtitles in English and French, the speech is being shown in sign language on video screens for any deaf or hard-of-hearing fans in the stadium.
Closing ceremony reflects on Coubertin’s legacy
The legacy of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, was front and center.
The ceremony referenced Coubertin’s 1894 speech at the International Congress for the revival of the Olympic Games, in which he articulated his vision for the Olympics as “international competitions, true championships of the world,” aiming to unite diverse nations through “friendly struggles of sport.”
Coubertin envisioned the modern Games as a continuation of the ancient Greek Olympiads, emphasizing the importance of a “sacred truce” during the Games to promote peace. He believed that the loyal observance of the rules would open athletes’ souls to “mutual respect,” which he saw as the foundation for maintaining peace between nations.
However, Coubertin’s legacy is complicated by his exclusionary views, particularly his opposition to women’s participation in the Games. His reputation is further questioned due to a letter he wrote to Adolf Hitler, in which he praised the Nazi leader and the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
‘You made us feel alive’
Estanguet changed to English to speak to the Olympians, saying, “To you, dear athletes, what can I say. We knew you would be brilliant. But you were magic. … You made us happy. You made us feel alive.”
He added they had “the most marriage proposals ever” during the Olympic Games.
‘Paris became a party’
Big cheers rose in the stadium when Paris Olympics organizing chief Tony Estanguet hailed multi-medal-winning swimmer Léon Marchand and other French Olympic champions — and a whale that breached during a surfing competition in Tahiti, for its own Olympic moment.
‘’Paris became a party and France lifted up,’’ during these Olympics, he said.
Two female mayors are about to have a moment
When the Olympic flag is passed to Los Angeles during the opening ceremony, it will mark the first time in Olympic history the exchange will be between two women.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is expected to give the flag to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The flag was to be lowered by members of the French Army as the Olympic Anthem is played by the Maîtrise de Fontainebleau and the Orchestre Divertimento. Bass is scheduled to fly the flag home to California on Monday on a LA 2028-branded Delta flight. She was to be accompanied by several athletes.
The Olympic Refugee Team is represented on stage
The Olympic Refugee Team once again gets highlighted in the closing ceremony. The biggest team since it was created for the 2016 Rio Games, the 37 athletes have stood as a symbol of hope for refugees everywhere. Cameroonian boxer Cindy Ngamba, the first person on the team to ever medal, stands on stage during speeches with top athletes.
‘We got Léon Marchand’
“We wanted excitement, we got passion,” Estanguet said, as the crowd gave a round of applause. “We wanted to be inspired, we got Léon Marchand.”
More athletes are headed out
Tony Estanguet’s speech is happening entirely in French here in the stadium. More athletes are heading to the exits. Thomas Bach is up next.
And now we get 15 minutes of speeches
It’s almost time for the speeches by Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 committee, and Thomas Bach, president of the IOC. Estanguet is a three-time gold medalist in canoeing. Bach is an Olympic champion in fencing. A podium is being set up in the middle of the stage.
Some Olympians are heading out
Some of the athletes began to leave the stadium giving a final waive to the crowd. Others started playing with the confetti on the ground, picking it up in their hands and throwing it in the air, LeBron James style.
Thomas Mars crowd surfs — maybe on real surfers
Lead singer Thomas Mars is leaning into it, jumping into the crowd, slapping hands and now throwing his jacket in the air as confetti falls.
The athletes are back in place — and still jamming
A big group of American athletes are jumping up and down next to the stage as Phoenix jams out. They’re enjoying the concert from up close.
Ezra Koenig joins the stage
Shazam is getting a workout in here. Phoenix is now playing “Tonight” with Ezra Koenig joining on stage.
Angele, Justice, Kavinsky… but no Daft Punk
Angele performed a cover of Nightcall from Kavinsky, a classic of the French electro music. Justice earlier, Kavinsky now. The French touch is on display tonight. Only group missing? Daft Punk!
Meanwhile, Stade de France is definitely rocking
Most of the athletes have cleared the stage as the band rocks on. The stadium has been transformed into a giant concert, with fog machines, laser beams and all.
Security is still trying to get the Olympians off the stage
Security and a crew of volunteers were still trying to clear the stage of athletes as Angele walked towards Phoenix, which is now starting its third song.
Overmatched security is trying to corral the Olympians
Security officials are walking up the platform to the stage, trying to usher athletes away. They’re not much of a match — there are at least a hundred athletes still swarming around…
