Tom Cruise “flies” towards the Olympic flag: from Paris the Games are already lighting up Los Angeles

With the sky tinged with the orange of the Paris sunset, swimmer Leon Marchand (4 golds and 1 bronze) turned off the Olympic lantern that will be lit again in four years, in 2028 in Los Angeles, but first passing through the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. The closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics (XXXIII edition of the modern Olympics) is a great celebration, colored by 205 flags that paraded one after the other with the flag of Greece at the top, where the Olympic Games were born 2800 years ago. Immediately after the flag of France and then all the others. In the stands, among others, there are the French president and host, Emmanuel Macron and the First Lady, Brigitte Macron.

The Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 OlympicsArthur Holmes/Getty Images

There are many images that will remain etched in our memory from the first moments of the ceremony, certainly Imane Khelif will not be forgotten with her gold medal parading as the flag bearer for her country, Algeria.

Imane Khelif
Imane KhelifSteph Chambers/Getty Images

Then the blues and the blues, led by the couple, in life and in sport, Rossella Fiamingo and Gregorio Paltrinieri who return home delivering to Italy the extraordinary result of 40 medals. There are approximately 859 medals won by the 85 countries, with several firsts, such as for Botswana, which celebrates the Olympic title of the sprinter Letsile Tebogo, the first African athlete to win the 200 meters race. The United States takes first place in the medal table of the 2024 Paris Olympics. After the entrance of the male and female athletes, the Stade de France came alive with a mega karaoke that involved the approximately 9,000 athletes present along with the public. The songs ranged from «Champs Elysées» to «Freed from desire» by the Italian singer-songwriter Gala, passing through «We are the champions».

The Records Show
The Records ShowMichael Reaves/Getty Images

After the award ceremony for the marathon athletes, the second part of the ceremony begins. Stade de France that we have seen throughout the Olympics always illuminated, is immersed in darkness. It is the night of the show entitled Records, which tells of a futuristic world in which the Olympic Games risk no longer existing. But thanks to the meeting between the Olympic spirit and the torchbearer of the future, the Olympic flame is saved and the five rings of the five continents return to shine in the sky.

The Records Show
The Records ShowMichael Reaves/Getty Images

The moment immediately following is when we can say that the party really begins. In the center of the Stade de France, the iconic Phoenix and the heartbeats rise together with the voices of the athletes and the publican who become a single chorus. Then the Belgian singer Angèle and finally the Air who join the Phoenix and not moving to their tune is impossible.

American musician Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend with Phoenix
American musician Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend with PhoenixJamie Squire/Getty Images

“From one day to the next, Paris found itself in a celebration and France came together. I have never felt so proud to be French. You athletes were extraordinary,” said the president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, Tony Estanguetwho took the stage together with 6 Olympic medalists, representing the five continents plus one of the refugees. After him, Thomas Bachpresident of the International Olympic Committee: «The Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world».

HER during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics
HER during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 OlympicsDavid Fitzgerald/Getty Images

After the delivery of the Olympic flag to the mayor of Los Angeles Karen Ruth Bass, the Californian singer takes the stage HER (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) and the US anthem fills the stadium. Immediately after is the impossible mission of Tom Cruise to take all the stage.

Tom Cruise
Tom CruiseMichael Reaves/Getty Images

As anticipated, the American actor who followed several Olympic competitions, certainly all those of Simone Bilestook over the Olympic flag, after jumping from the roof of the Stade de France and speeding off on a motorbike (albeit without a helmet) through the streets of Paris. Quoting Daniel Craig, in 007 for the 2012 London Olympics, Tom Cruise parachuted to the sound of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and landed with the flag on Hollywood Hills.

Karen Bass mayor of Los Angeles
Karen Bass, mayor of Los AngelesCarl Recine/Getty Images

A long relay of champions delivers the flag to Los Angeles and thus begins the finale of the Ceremony all set a stone’s throw from the sea. It is the prologue of Los Angeles 2028: there are immediately the Red Hot Chili Peppers unleash yourself then it arrives Billie Eilish and with his voice he enchants everything and everyone. To close comes Snoop Dogg, always present at the races in Paris. LA 2028 seems ready to begin.

Source: Vanity Fair

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