2024 Paris Olympic Games: Live coverage from day 16

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games has officially ended with Hollywood star Tom Cruise diving into Stade de France to claim the Olympic flag and give LA ownership ahead of 2028.

French swimmer Leon Marchand takes the Olympic flame from the cauldron ahead of the closing ceremony. Picture: AFP

Paris did it. They pulled off the Mission Impossible. With a spectacular blend of avant-garde French culture, pulsing rock, heroes and crazy love the world said au revoir and thank you for an incredible Olympic Games.

Two weeks of nail-biting and controversial competition – swimming in the River Seine and Australia’s gold rush in the pool – ended with a moving and memorable closing ceremony at Stade de France.

With a theme of rebirth and unification, the ceremony was designed to empower dreamers and remind the world that with darkness can come light.

In a time of global turmoil, Paris delivered one of the greatest Games in history despite security fears and the threat of terrorism.

“You created a culture of peace, this inspired all of us and billions of people around the globe,” IOC president Thomas Bach said. “Thank you for making us dream, thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone. We know the Olympic Games cannot create peace ... but the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world.

Tom Cruise jumped into the stadium to complete the LA handover. Picture: AFP

“Let us live this culture of peace every single day.”

Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet revealed Paris – the city of crazy love – had set a record for the most marriage proposals at an Olympic Games.

“We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magic,” he said.

“Hope, inspiration love ... The world needed these emotions so much.”

A dapper French swimming hero Leon Marchand swapped his togs for a black suit and tie to extinguish the cauldron and start the Olympic flame’s journey from the Louvre to the stadium.

Security was tight around the
near-capacity venue with enough weaponry to invade a small country, overseen by mounted police and a chopper.

Swimmer Kaylee McKeown and sailor Matt Wearn, who both won gold in Paris, represented Australia’s most successful Olympic team as flagbearers.

Paris lit up the closing ceremony. Picture: AFP

Athletes galloped, skipped and selfied their way into the stadium early to become part of the ceremony, with artistic director Thomas Jolly eager to make them key “actors in this grand finale”.

Renditions of Joe Dassin’s Les Champs-Élysées and Queen’s We are the champions had the athletes rocking while the party hit top gear when Tom Cruise emerged to steal the show.

The Hollywood A-lister and stuntman leaped from the roof of Stade de France in a stunning climax to the ceremonial Olympic flag handover from Paris to Los Angeles.

The Aussies were ready to part at Stade de France. Picture: Adam Head

He was embraced by athletes and volunteers, with one appearing to go in for a sneaky kiss.

Cruise leaped on a motorbike and, thanks to some Hollywood magic, we followed him on the screen as he crossed the Atlantic and parachuted from a US Air Force plane and ran up the Hollywood hill – with the famous sign sporting the Olympic rings.

His journey was to the tune of Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ smash hit By The Way performing on Venice Beach.

In a live performance they were also joined by superstars Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre.

The closing ceremony in Paris included separate French and American components as Paris handed the Olympic flag to Los Angeles ahead of 2028.

In the French section, the Stade de France was transformed into one giant concert hall for an extravaganza titled “Records”.

The Golden Voyager descends into the stadium during the closing ceremony. Picture: Getty Images

More than 100 performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists spanned the 2800 sqm stage and, after 35 days of rehearsal, put on a flawless performance.

Using a stadium for the ceremonial end of the Games was a safe move for organisers, who faced criticism for aspects of the opening ceremony when athletes sailed in on boats down the River Seine.

From beach volleyball parties under the Eiffel Tower to skateboarders carving up the historic La Concorde – the plaza Parisians used to execute kings and queens – Paris has raised the Olympic bar.

Good luck Los Angeles, but what we saw from the closing ceremony – the power of Hollywood and all its glitz and glamour promises they are planning to create a show to remember.

Relive all the action from the closing ceremony with our blog below

Originally published as 2024 Paris Olympic Games: Live coverage from day 16