After midnight, Paris said a triumphant "au revoir" to the Olympics as the curtain came down on a widely admired run of the world's sporting spectacle.
The dazzling closing ceremony, which culminated in the descent of Hollywood star Tom Cruise from the roof of the Stade de France in front of 71,500 spectators, was the highlight of what was recognized as one of the greatest Olympics ever held.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the Paris Games had showcased "the best in sport".
"It was a sensational Olympics from start to finish," Bach said. "Or dare I say it: the IOC chief joked with the line about the river that runs through Paris and on which the opening ceremony took place.
"Dear French friends, you fell in love with the Olympics. And we fell in love with all of you," Bach added.
Around 9,000 athletes flocked to the stadium to be entertained by 270 performers and entertainers at the ceremony, billed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport.
"We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magical," Paris 2024 organizing head Tony Estanger told the athletes. "You made us happy, you made us feel alive - the world so badly needed this moment."
France's swimming hero Leon Marchand - winner of four gold medals at these Games - kicked off the celebrations by taking the Olympic flame from the Tuileries Gardens to begin its journey to the Stade de France.
The closing performance marked the beginning of the four-year countdown to the Los Angeles Olympics, with American gymnastics icon Simone Biles joining Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in officially handing over the Olympic flag to the California city.
Mission: Impossible star Cruise then abseiled into the stadium before picking up the Olympic flag and riding off on a motorbike to the delight of athletes and fans.
A pre-filmed segment showed Cruise prowling the streets of Paris before boarding a plane and parachuting into Los Angeles and adorning Los Angeles' iconic "Hollywood" sign with the Olympic rings.
Afterward, Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers and singer Billie Eilish performed a mini-concert on beaches around the city.
The ceremony followed 17 days of often breathtaking sporting action against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks, from the Eiffel Tower to the Château de Versailles.
On the final day of sporting events, the United States edged out China in the medal battle as the U.S. women's basketball team prevailed over France 67-66 to win the final gold of the games.
The victory - the eighth consecutive Olympic title for the USA in women's basketball - ensured that the Americans would finish tied with China with 40 gold medals each.
However, the U.S. finished atop the overall medal standings with a total of 126 medals, and China remained in second place with 91 medals. |
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