Tom Cruise Does Shocking Stunt at Olympics Closing Ceremony: All You Need to Know
With special appearances, show-stopping musical performances, and a Hollywood-style stunt by Tom Cruise, the Paris Olympics closing ceremony ended with a bang.
After a thrilling two-and-a-half weeks at the Paris Games, this year’s Summer Olympics came to an end at the closing ceremony on August 11. As the Olympic flame was extinguished, athletes, celebrities, and musicians came together to celebrate the cultures of two cities: Paris, of course, and Los Angeles, the official host city of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
Following a stunning light show and a beautiful dance display held on the stage of the Stade de France, French rock band Phoenix was introduced as the first musical performance of the night. The band had several Olympic athletes jamming out with them onstage, though organizers eventually escorted the competitors away to give the musicians their space. Soon after, it came time for the Olympic flag hand-off, during which Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass gave the flag to star U.S. Olympian Simone Biles as H.E.R. sang the national anthem.
She is H.E.R.!
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 11, 2024
“The Star-Spangled Banner” rings out around the Stade de France, while Simone Biles holds the Olympic flag.
Is it starting to feel real, @LA28?#Paris2024 #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/an6H3AfKBf
Next, in a shocking, Hollywood twist, Cruise appeared on top of the stadium. The A-list actor jumped from the roof onto the ground below, to the tune of the Mission: Impossible theme song, and weaved through the crowd of athletes to accept the flag from Biles. Then, staying true to classic action film tropes, Cruise hopped on a motorcycle with the flag and rode to the airport, where he caught a flight to Los Angeles.
For those not watching, Tom Cruise just jumped off the top of the stadium, landed like a boss, and took off on his motorcycle with the Olympic flag. That is all. I just needed everyone to know that. #ClosingCeremony
— M. Leigh (@MLeighTrueBlue) August 11, 2024
The cinematic display featured Cruise skydiving onto the Hollywood sign, to which three extra O’s were added to mimic the Olympic rings. The actor then brought the flag to Long Beach, where Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a classic L.A. concert to celebrate the upcoming 2028 games. After showing California some love, the closing ceremony concluded back in Paris with French singer Yseult giving a breathtaking final performance of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” amid soaring fireworks.
I’m sorry but this is the best Closing Ceremony of an Olympics ever, Who Agrees?pic.twitter.com/fbodsHUxKG
— Benonwine (@benonwine) August 11, 2024
Readers can watch this year’s Paralympics starting August 28 on NBC. You can also check out replays of the Olympics here.
