Paris: Hollywood star Tom Cruise abseiled from the roof of the Stade de France at the climax of the Paris Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday, leaving the country to reluctantly bid farewell to a Games hailed as one of the most successful in history.
Cruise descended on a wire in front of 71,500 spectators, grabbed the Olympic flag and jumped on a motorbike, to the delight of athletes and fans. In a preview of what the world can expect when the Games head to Los Angeles in 2028, the "Mission Impossible" star was then shown boarding a plane and skydiving into the Californian city before adorning the iconic Hollywood sign with the Olympic rings. Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer Billie Eilish and rappers Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre then performed a mini-concert on a beach framed by the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean. Newspapers in France and Europe hailed a fitting end to a dazzling fortnight that has mixed sport and culture while modernising the Olympic format.
"Keep the flame alive," said the front-page headline of France's biggest sports newspaper, L'Equipe, which featured new national hero Leon Marchand and urged French people to maintain the spirit "of this enchanted fortnight". Le Monde newspaper also pondered France's future and its tendency for pessimism in the light of two weeks of celebration, sporting success and almost faultless organisation. "The Paris Games offered the capital and the entire country more than two weeks of fervour and happiness that were so unexpected and appreciated given that they came after a political period dominated by the sad passions of decline and xenophobia," it said. The closing spectacle marked the beginning of the four-year countdown to the LA Games, and American gymnastics icon Simone Biles joined Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass as the Olympic flag was formally handed over. Earlier, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said the Paris Games had been "sport at its best".
"These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish," Bach said. "Or dare I say: Seine-sational Games," the IOC chief quipped in a pun about the river flowing through Paris which was the scene of the opening ceremony. "Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you," Bach added. Around 9,000 athletes had flooded into the stadium to be entertained by 270 performers and artists in a ceremony billed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport. "We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magic," Paris 2024 organising chief Tony Estanguet told athletes. "You made us happy, you made us feel alive -- the world needed this moment so much." - Athletes party - The ceremony began when France's swimming hero Marchand -- winner of four gold medals at these Games -- collected the Olympic flame from the cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens to begin its journey to the stadium. Local rugby hero Antoine Dupont -- who led the host nation to a rugby sevens gold medal in one of the early highlights of the Games -- carried a French flag into the stadium as partying athletes swarmed the field. The ceremony followed 17 days of frequently breathtaking sporting action set against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Chateau de Versailles. In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony, Sunday's festivities began as a golden sunset bathed the French capital. The last day of sporting action saw the United States pip China for top spot in the battle for medals after the US women's basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games.
The win -- the eighth consecutive Olympic women's basketball title won by the USA -- ensured the Americans finished level with China on 40 golds each. The USA however finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91. - Marathon magic - Sunday began with a gripping women's marathon victory by Dutch long-distance running star Sifan Hassan. Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble in Paris, competing in the 5,000m, the 10,000m and the marathon. But in a jaw-dropping sprint finish, Hassan overhauled Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2hr 22min 55sec. She fell to the ground on the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex in the heart of Paris before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate an extraordinary achievement. Hassan was presented with her gold medal at the closing ceremony.
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