Closing Ceremony Marks Handoff to LA28

An Olympic Summer Games in Paris hailed as a success operationally and otherwise came to an end with a Closing Ceremony that put LA28 on the clock as it enters its next phase leading to the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

And the final act in Paris had several nods to the Hollywood-style approach L.A. organizers may take, including actor Tom Cruise descending from the top of Stade de France, taking the Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and whisking it on a journey via motorcycle and on video all the way back to Southern California. The video also featured the Hollywood signs with the final “O”s made up to be part of the colored Olympic rings.

The stunt came shortly after Paris Mayor Ann Hidalgo ceremonially handed the Olympic flag to Thomas Bach, who passed it on to Bass and Simone Biles, who joined the mayor on stage. It was the first time in Olympic history that two female leaders of the host cities participated in the tradition.

“It was an immense honor to participate in this moment of history and it was such a privilege to stand with Simone Biles – someone who has made the entire country proud,” Bass said afterward. “It’s my hope that when girls around the world watched the first woman mayor of Paris officially hand off the flag to the first woman mayor of Los Angeles, they were inspired. Together, we sent the message to girls all around the world that they can do anything — they can run for gold and they can run for office.”

LA28 also unveiled several new LA28 emblems, which reflect a rotating version of the “A” to offer different looks of what’s ahead. Among those who designed the new emblems were the musicians that took part in the Closing Ceremony, H.E.R., Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as one themed for Kobe Bryant, by his wife, Vanessa.

All the artists but H.E.R. appeared from a taped appearance in Long Beach, California, during the ceremony, a move that appeared to disappoint many in attendance at the Stade de France, with scores of athletes and spectators leaving for the exits when they realized what was happening. H.E.R. appeared in Paris to perform the national anthem during the handover.

The Closing Ceremony had a few logistical hiccups, including one of two screens in the stadium that went dark for some time and a moment where hundreds of athletes came onto the center staging en masse, only to be told over the stadium P.A. that they had to get back down.

For their part, Paris 2024 organized staged a large production that reflected a dystopian world where the Olympics had to be reborn again. Central to the production was a “Golden Voyager,” that was inspired by the Golden Record, a disc launched into space in 1977 by the Voyager spacecraft that contained an identity card of human civilization.

It included five rings that were assembled and inevitably hoisted in the air to make the Olympic ring logo.

In closing remarks, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet thanked the athletes, staff, volunteers and public safety officials that made the event happen. “France has showed up,” he said. “Tonight, I have never felt so proud to be French. Together, we have shown the world the most beautiful face of France.”
He also noted that seven marriage proposals had been recorded among athletes during the Games — believed to be a record.

And the fireworks display that lit up the stadium at the event’s conclusion marked a fitting end to a memorable Games in Paris. Now, the work will begin for Los Angeles, which Bass said will aim to have a “no car” Games when visitors from around the world arrive.