By Gemma Grant
During Sydney’s bid for the 2000 Olympics, then-superstar couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman appeared in a video to help promote the city’s plans for an environmentally friendly sporting event.
Now, 20 years later, both have flown into Paris to attend France’s iteration of the global sporting event – alongside a host of other mega-celebrities. The level of star power from the world of pop culture has even threatened to overshadow the athletic prowess on display (and for those who are bigger fans of music and film than sport, it probably has).
There’s been no shortage of musicians already spotted in France. Lady Gaga impressed the opening ceremony audience with a French rendition of Mon Truc en Plumes, before showing up to support the US women’s artistic gymnastics team. Ariana Grande was also in the crowd, pictured alongsideVogue editor Anna Wintour.
Tom Cruise greets fans during the artistic gymnastics women’s qualification event.Credit: Getty Images
Singer John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen watched the same event with their two children, while Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger attended the fencing competition with his son and partner.
Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, were spotted at the skateboarding. Meanwhile, Cruise was photographed watching the gymnastics alongside Barbie director Greta Gerwig.
But rapper Snoop Dogg has become an unexpected star of the Games. Since carrying the ceremonial torch during the opening ceremony, he’s cheered on the artistic gymnastics and skateboarding competitors.
Snoop’s wardrobe has also turned heads. His graphic T-shirts, including one with the face of gymnast Simone Biles and another of tennis player Coco Gauff, have been particularly popular online.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates looked on as the US gymnasts won gold in the team competition on Tuesday.
Gates is no stranger to the Olympics, having made prominent appearances at Sydney in 2000 and Beijing in 2008. He even has a family member competing, with son-in-law Nayel Nassar a member of the Egyptian equestrian team.
US rapper Snoop Dogg wears a Simone Biles shirt while attending the women’s artistic gymnastics qualifications.Credit: Getty Images
Famous faces have disproportionately been spotted at the women’s artistic gymnastics. Many were eager to watch Simone Biles in action following her withdrawal from the Games in Tokyo. Biles is widely considered among the best gymnasts of all time and recently starred in her own Netflix docuseries, Rising. Her team’s win on Wednesday officially made her the most decorated gymnast in history.
Big names like Serena Williams, Natalie Portman, Zac Efron and Miranda Kerr are among the other high-profile guests at the Paris Games.