After a spectacular opening ceremony that saw the return of Celine Dion the Paris Olympics are set to end on a high note with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise to skydive in 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony on August 11. Cruise, who has been filming “Mission: Impossible 8” in Europe, attended several events including the opening ceremony, women’s gymnastics, and swimming competitions. According to sources close to the Olympics organizing committee, Cruise will play a key role in the ceremony, where he will symbolically hand over the Olympic flag to Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Games.
In a memorable scene reported by the French blog Sortir à Paris, Cruise was seen filming a scene on a motorcycle, carrying a large flag, as he rode from the Arc de Triomphe down the iconic Champs-Élysées Avenue. The actor was recently honored as a Knight of France’s prestigious Legion of Honor.
Read Also: Lady Gaga Introduces Michael Polansky as Fiance at Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony
The closing ceremony, titled “Records,” will take place indoors at the Stade de France on a 2,800-square-meter stage. The event promises a journey through time, celebrating the history of the Olympic Games from Ancient Greece to the present. This follows the opening ceremony’s controversial but creative depiction of Greek mythology, including a scene with a Dionysus-costumed singer alongside drag queens, which some saw as a nod to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Artistic director Thomas Jolly, however, stated that the intent was to depict a grand pagan festival.
The closing event will feature “world-famous performers” and over a hundred acrobats, dancers, and circus artists. The ceremony will include a performance set in a dystopian environment and a choreography involving the iconic five interlaced Olympic rings, symbolizing the world’s continents.
The organizers aim to match the excitement of the opening ceremony, which featured Celine Dion performing at the base of the Eiffel Tower and Lady Gaga delivering a cabaret-inspired act along the Seine river. With the closing ceremony being held indoors, organizers are likely relieved to avoid the unpredictable weather that affected the outdoor opening ceremony, which took place in pouring rain and led to Gaga pre-taping her segment.
Read also: Dubai Sets Record as Most Watched City on TikTok
The creative efforts of the Paris Olympics have been widely celebrated, with the team behind the opening ceremony being finalists for the IBC Innovation Awards, recognizing excellence in media, entertainment, and technology.
