- 'Exceeded expectations': Paris celebrates and the Games
Olympic champions Laura Lindemann and Max Rendschmidt proudly waved the German flag at the Stade de France, with Emmanuel Macron and Thomas Bach applauding from the honorary tribune. The start of the nations' parade marked the beginning of the Olympic Games' closing ceremony in Paris, promising a unique evening filled with a spectacular show lasting over three hours.
"With the world's eyes on us, we're simply thrilled," said Rendschmidt shortly before the start of the ceremony on ZDF. Many of his teammates also didn't want to miss out on the experience. The German team concluded the Summer Games with 33 medals, ranking tenth in the nations' tally, the lowest since reunification.
Yet, the German athletes were in high spirits at the Stade de France. Lindemann described it as "mega cool," adding, "a few stars will be there, and it'll be a cool show."
IOC President Thomas Bach, before the ceremony began, called these Olympic Games "unparalleled in their expectations." He praised them as "a fantastic experience, enriched with French culture and lifestyle. This spark has clearly jumped to the population." Unlike the Summer Games in Tokyo and the Winter Games in Beijing, Paris was no longer affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bach described the Games as more inclusive, moving where people are. "They are younger and above all, more sustainable," said the 70-year-old. The CO2 balance was set to decrease by over 50% compared to previous Games, with 95% of competition venues already existing or only temporarily constructed.
The show, lasting over three hours, bid Paris farewell. Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the spectacular opening ceremony on the Seine, was also responsible for the closing act. With over 250 artists, acrobats, and dancers, the Stade de France was transformed into a theater. Rehearsals for the show lasted 35 days.
Over 71,000 spectators and 9,000 athletes and staff from 205 delegations watched the evening at France's national stadium. It began by linking to the end of the opening ceremony. After the song "Sous le ciel de Paris," swimming superstar Léon Marchand carried the Olympic flame in a lantern from the Tuileries towards the Louvre, where it would later arrive at the Stade de France.
During the ceremony, the Olympic flag will be passed from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to her colleague Karen Bass from Los Angeles, which will host the next Summer Games in 2028. "We will share a historic moment and send a message to girls worldwide that they can achieve anything," said Bass about the first time the flag is passed from woman to woman.
Over 9.5 million tickets were sold for the Games, with over 60% going to French sports fans. Almost a million people lined the streets for the road cycling events, and 450,000 spectators visited the beach volleyball stadium near the Eiffel Tower.
Up to 11,804 athletes lived in the Olympic Village. Daily, 600 baguettes and 3,000 muffins were consumed, with 150 hairdressing and manicure appointments taken.
Even during the closing weekend, special attention was paid to security. 30,000 personnel were deployed in the Greater Paris area, with 2,000 securing the closing ceremony.
The IOC President, Thomas Bach, commended the Paris Olympics, stating they were "unparalleled in their expectations" and a "fantastic experience enriched with French culture and lifestyle." During the ceremony, the Olympic flag will be passed from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Los Angeles' Karen Bass, marking the start of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, as per Bach's comments at the IOC.
