Mon. Nov 25th, 2024
alert-–-2024-paris-olympics-closing-ceremony:-summer-games-come-to-a-close-following-team-gb-claiming-14-gold-medals,-65-in-total-with-billie-eilish-and-the-red-hot-chilli-peppers-set-to-featureAlert – 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony: Summer Games come to a close following Team GB claiming 14 gold medals, 65 in total with Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers set to feature

22:00

Dr Dre joins Snoop Dogg on the beach

Snoop Dogg is back in the States after a very visible fortnight in Paris, where he became an unexpected equestrian icon.

He is joined on a third beachside LA stage by Dr Dre for ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’.

That’s it, in terms of tonight’s popular musical performances.

21:55

Now Billie Eilish

After the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have sung one song – ‘Can’t Stop’ – Billie Eilish, on an even smaller stage a little way along the beach, performs ‘Birds of a Feather’.

Next up, Snoop Dogg…

21:51

Red Hot Chilli Peppers perform… in LA

Paris has officially passed over to Los Angeles.

After the Tom Cruise VT ends, the television coverage cuts to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers performing live… in front of a small crowd on Vence Beach in LA.

21:47

More from Tom Cruise

After he exits the stadium, the coverage cuts to a pre-recorded (sorry to spoil the illusion) video.

It shows Cruise driving into an aircraft, before jumping out of it.

The flag is then delivered to LA, while the Hollywood sign is decorated with the Olympic rings.

The video’s backing track is ‘By the Way’ by the Red Hot Chill Peppers…

21:43

H.E.R. upstaged by Tom Cruise

H.E.R. sings the national anthem of the USA. The French crowd tolerates it.

But the noise level rises soon after as Tom Cruise appears on the big screen.

He’s on the roof. Down he jumps – he does his own stunts, you know – before hopping on a nearby motorcycle and driving away with the Olympic flag in tow.

Tom Cruise is lowered on the State de France during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

21:39

Over to you, LA

The Olympic anthem is played in the Stade de France.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo then hands over the Olympic flag to the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass.

This transaction takes place over the Atlantic Ocean on the map-themed stage.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass waves the Olympic flag REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

21:34

Bach praises Refugee Team

37 athletes across 12 sports represented the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024.

One of those athletes, Cindy Ngamba – who is currently based in Bolton – won a bronze medal in the women’s middleweight boxing event.

Addressing the refugee team, Bach says: ‘You showed us what greatness human beings are capable of. You lived together, you embraced each other even though some countries are divided and at war. You lived in peace.

‘Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone.

‘We know the Olympics cannot create peace but it can great a culture of peace that inspires the world.

‘This is why I call on everyone who shares this Olympic spirit. Let us live this culture of peace every single day.’

21:26

IOC president says Games can 'create a culture of peace that inspires the world'

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach: ‘Despite all the tensions in our world, you came here from all 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 on the edge of perfection. Every performance sparking excitement around the world. You showed us what greatness we humans are capable of.

‘During all this time, you lived peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village. You embraced each other. You respected each other, even if your countries are divided by war and conflict. You created a culture of peace.

‘This inspired all of us and billions of people around the globe. Thank you for making us dream. Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone.

‘We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace. But the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world. This is why I call on everyone who shares this Olympic spirit: let us live this culture of peace every single day.’

21:24

'We are all in love with the Games'

Estanguet adds: ‘We knew you would be brilliant but you have been magic.

‘We are so proud of you, bravo to all of you.

‘We are all in love with the Games, the 19 days have passed so quickly and these 19 days will always stay with us.

‘The same venues in two and a half weeks’ time, 4,500 athletes are ready. I invite you on August 28 to the best return match of your lives, be there at the Paralympics 2024.’

21:22

Estanguet addresses the crowd

Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, says: ‘On the first day of the Paris 2024 adventure, we have been preparing for everything but we could not prepare for that – everything we just lived together.

‘When the athletes travelled along the Seine, Celion Dion sang from the Eiffel Tower and the Olympic Cauldron was lit, a wave rolled out that carried the whole world in it’s wake.

‘Our competition venues will remain in the history of the games. We wanted fervour and excitement, we got passion. We wanted to dream, we had Leon Marchand.

‘Together we lived the games as never seen before, a whale even took part in the the surfing finals in Haiti. From one day to the next, time stopped and a whole country vibrated. France rediscovered itself. From one day to the next, the whole of France became Olympic.

‘All that was possible because of you all, who met up – the millions of spectators.’

21:19

Let's get serious for a second

The music is paused as two men dressed in suits take to the stage to address the crowd.

They are president of Paris 2024 Tony Estanguet and IOC president Thomas Bach.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 11: Thomas Bach, President of International Olympic Committee watches on as Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris Organising Committee for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, makes a speech during the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

21:05

Guest singers join Phoenix on stage

No sign of Billie Eilish yet but Cambodian rapper Vannda joins Phoenix on stage for a brief collab.

Next, up comes Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend.

20:53

Time to bop

The athletes move closer to the centre of the stadium, symbolising them taking over the world (because of the map on the ground) and the Games, I think.

The stage is therefore now much smaller now, but there is enough space for a local band, called Phoenix, to get the popular music section underway.

20:44

Rings raised

The golden voyager is eventually joined on stage by a team of helpers, seemingly also from another planet.

They then assemble the famous five Olympic rings before they are raised to the sky as fireworks explode behind them.

Good work, aliens.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Formation and raising of the Olympic Rings during the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. General view during the Formation and Raising of the Olympic Rings during the closing ceremony REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. The formation and raising of the Olympic Rings during the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Phil Noble

20:40

The golden voyager

The alien, dubbed the ‘golden voyager’, appears to be telling the story of how the Olympics were formed in ancient Greece, and later relaunched in the 1890s.

After the voyager’s journey of discovery ends, the oldest hymn from ancient Greece, The Hymn to Apollo, is performed in the stadium.

epa11546040 An artist performs as alien carrying the greek flag during the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France Stadium in Paris, France, 11 August 2024.  EPA/CAROLINE BLUMBERG

20:26

Lights out and away we go!

The stadium lights go out as the artsy section of the show begins.

Organisers had promised that artistic director Thomas Jolly’s show was going to be a ‘very visual, very choreographic, very acrobatic show with an operatic dimension to give a great visual fresco and say goodbye to athletes from all over the world.’

It starts with an alien figure descending on the Stade de France.

epa11546034 An artist performs as alien during the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France Stadium in Paris, France, 11 August 2024.  EPA/CAROLINE BLUMBERG

20:13

Enter the Games makers

45,000 volunteers from 150 different countries helped make Paris 2024 happen.

Around a hundred of them just entered the stadium to receive thanks from the crowd.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. General view of volunteers at the start of the parade of athletes during the closing ceremony REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

20:04

Dutch delight

The national anthem of the Netherlands is played after women’s marathon winner Sifan Hassan is given her gold medal.

Hassan set a new Olympic record earlier today when she finished first in a time of 2:22:58.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's Marathon Victory Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Gold medallist Sifan Hassan of Netherlands, silver medallist Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia and bronze medallist Hellen Obiri of Kenya REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

20:00

'We Are The Champions'

The athletes have now settled in position by the side of the stage.

‘We Are The Champions’ was just played over the speaker system, giving all Olympic champions the perfect opportunity to grab their gold medals as the camera panned by.

Among the champions in attendance is Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was greeted warmly by the crowd upon her arrival.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 11: Gold Medalist Imane Khelif of Team Algeria acknowledges the fans during the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

19:56

Medal podiums assembled

There are still a handful of medals to be presented following the conclusion of the competition earlier today.

A podium is being set up for those awards to be dished out.

As we wait, the stadium DJ belts out some karaoke classics to keep the crowd entertained.

19:50

Tom Cruise in the house

It had been widely rumoured that Tom Cruise was going to be among the performers at the Stade de France.

And indeed the man is here tonight!

Stay tuned for stunts…

US' actor Tom Cruise reacts as he attends the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, in the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Franck FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

19:42

Athletes everywhere!

After the flagbearers have all been introduced, the rest of the athletes – hundreds of them – enter the arena.

The French contingent are lapping up the love from the home crowd.

This process is much more swift and efficient than at the opening ceremony.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Athletes of France are seen during the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

19:36

Here come the flags

Now the crowd is engaged as flag-waving athletes enter the arena two by two.

Trampoline gold medallist Bryony Page and triathlon champion Alex Yee are the Team GB flagbearers.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Ceremonies - Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 11, 2024. Flagbearers carry the flags on the stadium by a giant gold medal. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

Great Britain flag bearers Alex Yee and Bryony Page during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games , at the Stade de France, Paris. Picture date: Sunday August 11, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

19:29

Crowd getting restless

The first live musical number inside the Stade de France is a choral rendition of Sous le Ciel.

It’s pretty impressive but seemingly not what the fans have come to see.

The performance is frequently interrupted by whooping and cheering from the stands.

19:13

The Olympic flame is collected

The Olympic flame has been collected from the cauldron in the Tuileries garden.

It will now make its way to the Stade de France.

19:07

Music in the garden

I had said that tonight’s closing ceremony was all taking place inside the Stade de France.

That is seemingly not 100% accurate as the first song of the night is being performed in the Tuileries Garden.

It is shown on the big screens in the stadium.

This is a gentle start to the evening and very French. Expect the night to get much more American as it goes on.

19:01

Here we go!

Music begins to play and the stage is revealed.

It is a replica of the world map.

18:55

Take your seats…

The 80,000-capacity Stade de France is completely sold out for tonight’s event.

However, the stadium is not completely full just yet.

Hurry up latecomers, the ceremony is only five minutes away.

The crowd waits for the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

18:36

The stage is set…

There’s little more than 20 minutes to go until the party gets underway at the Stade de France.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mickael Chavet/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (14632136a) A few hours before the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France Paris 2024: Closing Ceremony, Ile-De-France, France - 11 Aug 2024

18:15

Who is performing tonight?

LA28 has confirmed that Californians Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg are performing tonight.

Meanwhile, H.E.R. will sing the Star Spangled Banner in Paris as France passes the baton over to the USA ahead of the next Games.

There have also been rumours about Tom Cruise being involved in some capacity but nothing has been officially confirmed at this stage.

(FILES) US singer Billie Eilish arrives for the 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in Palm Springs, California, on January 4, 2024. From Tom Cruise to the princes of the French Touch such as Air and Phoenix, the Stade de France welcomes huge stars on August 8 evening for a futuristic closing show that will bridge the gap between Paris and Los Angeles, host city of the next Summer Olympics. On the Paris 2024 side, singers Zaho de Sagazan and Yseult will perform, according to a document sent to the press. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

18:09

Opening ceremony recap

The closing ceremony is expected to be fun, colourful and exciting.

However, it is likely to be a more simple occasion than the opening ceremony just over a fortnight ago.

For one, it is taking place at the Stade de France, rather than all over Paris.

Also, no rain is forecast in Paris this evening.

Revisit the opening ceremony below with the photo gallery below.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Opening Ceremony - Paris, France - July 26, 2024.  Spectators wearing rain ponchos watch a light show at the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Hannah Mckay     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A photograph taken from an helicopter on July 26, 2024 shows an aerial view of Paris town hall (Hotel de Ville) square during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Athletes from Chad delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine as rain starts at the start of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France on July 26, 2024. (Photo by Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images)

A photograph taken from a helicopter shows an aerial view of a delegation boat navigating on the Seine under Pont Saint-Michel Bridge in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Lionel Bonaventure/Pool Photo via AP)

17:53

Final medal table

As previously mentioned, the USA finished first, with Team GB seventh.

Click below to see the table in full.

17:34

How did Team GB do?

Great Britain ended the Games with 14 golds, 22 silvers and 29 bronzes.

Only the USA (129) and China (91) won more medals than Team GB (65).

However, Britain ended seventh in the medal table because Japan, , France and the Netherlands all won more golds.

Great Britain finished fourth at Tokyo three years ago with 22 golds, 20 silvers and 22 bronzes (64 overall).

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Bronze medallists Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Louie Hinchliffe and Jeremiah Azu of team Great Britain celebrate after the men's 4x100m relay final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 05: Bronze medalists Alex Yee, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Beth Potter and Samuel Dickinson of Team Great Britain celebrate with the Team Great Britain flag following the Triathlon medal ceremony after the Mixed Relay on Day Ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Pont Alexandre III on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 05: Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain wins gold medal in the women's 800m final at the Stade de France during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France on August 05, 2024. (Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu via Getty Images)

17:27

Who won Paris 2024?

Earlier this summer, multiple American television channels were mocked for claiming that Team USA were top of the medal table.

China were leading at that point based on the official table, which ranks nations based primarily on how many golds they have won.

But the USA had won more medals overall.

Well, the USA ended the Games with 40 golds – double the tally of any other nation other than China.

China also won 40 golds, but were 35 behind the Americans overall.

So yeah, Team USA win

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Kevin Durant of Team USA cheers with the national flag after winning during the Men's Gold Medal Game on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)

the Olympics!

17:20

How has day 16 gone so far?

The final day of competition at the 2024 Olympic Games began early with the women’s marathon, which was won by Sifan Hassan in an Olympic record time of 2:22:55.

Then came the finales of the handball, water polo, wrestling, weightlifting, pentathlon and track cycling events.

The final sporting competition of the Games was the women’s basketball gold medal match between France and the USA, with the Americans winning 67-66

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 11:  Kelsey Plum #5 of the USA Women's National Team Chelsea Gray #8 of the USA Women's National Team Jackie Young #13 of the USA Women's National Team and A'ja Wilson #9 of the USA Women's National Team poses for a photo  during the Women's Gold Medal game at the  AccorHotels Arena on August 11, 2024 in Lille, France. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

17:10

Good evening

Well then…

That was the 2024 Olympic Games.

All of the events have finished and all of the medals dished out. Now all that remains is tonight’s closing ceremony, which is due to begin at 8pm (UK time).

Stick with Mail Sport to follow the action live as the show concludes at the Stade de France.

Key Updates

  • IOC president says Games can 'create a culture of peace that inspires the world'

  • Enter the Games makers

  • 'We Are The Champions'

  • Tom Cruise in the house

  • Athletes everywhere!

  • Here come the flags

  • Here we go!

  • Who is performing tonight?

  • Opening ceremony recap

  • Final medal table

  • How did Team GB do?

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