Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony Ends with a Hollywood-Style Finale

Two weeks of peak interest in athletics culminated in a closing ceremony. The Olympic Games are grand global rituals that measure the worth of athletes every four years. Although international competitions keep athletes busy between these events, the world acknowledges the Olympics as the ultimate stage.

The television coverage of the Games was exceptionally well-executed on Peacock. Viewers could tune into any event at any time, experiencing the raw emotions of victory and defeat. The goodwill and camaraderie extended beyond teammates to rivals, highlighting a diverse, welcoming world—a utopian vision, perhaps, but an appealing one nonetheless. Marlene Dietrich once remarked on the necessity of illusions, a fitting sentiment here.

Paris’s staging of the Games was both traditional and innovative. Temporary open-air stadiums were impressively set up below the Eiffel Tower, at Place de la Concorde, and in the gardens of Versailles. These venues highlighted the city’s essence far beyond its large arenas. Even the Seine was transformed into a swimming venue, though its healthiness might be questionable. The cobblestone streets, busy with spectators, added a unique excitement to the races.

The closing ceremony, overseen by artistic director Thomas Jolly, was predictably anticlimactic as all the games had concluded. The ceremony was a slow-paced theatrical piece akin to a Cirque du Soleil directed by Robert Wilson. Beginning with a scene in the Tuileries, French swimming champion Léon Marchand lit an Olympic flame, passing it on to the audience, all to the tune of “Sous le ciel de Paris.”

The performance continued with a golden winged figure descending to an abstract Earth. This mystical figure interacted with other symbolic characters from the opening ceremony. Highlights included opera singer Benjamin Bernheim, in a robe made from recycled VHS tapes, delivering a powerful performance of the “Hymn to Apollo,” alongside Alain Roche, who played a vertically suspended piano.

The giant Olympic rings were exhumed one by one and lifted into the air during the show. An inflatable replica of the “Winged Victory of Samothrace” rose from the floor, while mesmerizing lights created animated athletic scenes in the stands. These visuals culminated in the rings forming the familiar Olympic pattern.

Following this, the fireworks and the pop show began. There were speeches, the lowering of the Olympic flag, and the transition to the next host city. The flag was handed over to L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Simone Biles.

Hollywood star Tom Cruise dramatically took the Olympic flag, riding out of the Stade de France and into a filmed sequence where he skydived into Hollywood, affixing three extra O’s to the Hollywood sign to mimic the Olympic rings. The flag passed to various U.S. Olympians, culminating in a beachside performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, and Snoop Dogg.

French singer Yseult then delivered a subtle, emotional rendition of “My Way,” nicely capping the ceremony. Despite the unnecessary commentary by Jimmy Fallon, the closing ceremony ended on a high note.

Source: Los Angeles Times