Blaring the musical stylings of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Paris Olympics passed the proverbial torch to Los Angeles as the 2024 Olympics came to a close with dramatic pageantry.
Famed actor Tom Cruise was handed the Olympic flag on Sunday and rode off with it on a motorcycle as it made its way across the globe to Los Angeles.
In a cinematically filmed video, Cruise rode through the streets of Paris onto a jet, which he parachuted out of into the City of Angels.
The handoff ended with skateboarder Jagger Eaton reaching a stage in Venice Beach, California where the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed.
Hit artists Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre also performed.
Swimming superstar Katie Ledecky had expressed a desire earlier during the ceremony her hope to be able to compete in four years in the United States.
“I’d love to swim in 2028. I think swimming in front of the home crowd would be incredible. I’m gonna take it one year at a time,” she told NBC during the broadcast of the ceremony.
But before the book was closed in Paris, Ledecky and American rower Nick Mead served as flag bearers in the closing ceremony as the American contingent celebrated one more time a successful run at the summer games.
The United States tied China for gold medals (40) and captured the most overall medals (126) during the two weeks in the French capital.
Ledecky helped the United States in the medal count winning two gold medals – one in the women’s 1500m freestyle and one in the women’s 800m freestyle – along with a bronze and silver.
Mead had his own part to play in this year’s showing, helping to win gold with Team USA in men’s rowing.
“It’s been amazing. The French people … unbelievably generous,” he said during the NBC broadcast. “It’s really cool to meet all these other athletes after Tokyo not being able to mingle with all the other great athletes around the world. It’s been incredible.”
He added that he was “humbled and honored” to serve as the flag bearer alongside Ledecky as the two were the last to enter the stadium.
“All the countries around us, we’re the last ones to walk in. That’s pretty special since we’re headed to LA next,” Ledecky said.
The closing ceremony was filled with the flare and pageantry that came along with the opening ceremony that took place on the Seine River a little more than two weeks ago in July.
A character known as the Golden Voyager rappeled from the roof of Stade de France and gilded across the stage as part of the artistic vision of Thomas Jolly, the artistic and stage director for the closing ceremony.
A musical performance by the band Phoenix turned the closing ceremony into a giant party for the Olympians and those in attendance as the well-known band opened with its popular song “Lisztomania.”
Despite attempts by the organizers and security to clear the Olympians from the stage, many remained as the popular French indie rock band played their first song.
Musical artists Angele, Justice, Kavinsky and Ezra Koenig also took the stage.
