Many stars are expected at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics
Artistic Director of the Closing Ceremony starting at 21:00 at the Stade de France is Frenchman Thomas Jolly, who also designed the spectacular opening ceremony on the Seine. More than a hundred dancers, acrobats, and circus artists will participate in the show themed "Records".
The list of international music stars was kept secret until the last minute. Initially, performances by French bands Air and Phoenix were confirmed. Also joining the Paris segment of the show is singer Zaho de Sagazan, who gained international attention with a performance at the Cannes Film Festival opening in May.
The second part of the Closing Ceremony, traditionally designed by the organizers of the next Summer Olympics, is eagerly awaited. Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who has been in Paris for several days, is set to play a major role. US media reported that the 62-year-old actor will abseil from the stadium roof carrying the Olympic flag. Cruise has already filmed video sequences on both sides of the Atlantic for the symbolic handover of the baton to Los Angeles.
Around 10,500 athletes from 203 countries participated in the Paris Olympics. The German flag at the Closing Ceremony will be carried by triathlete Laura Lindemann and canoeist Max Rendschmid, both of whom won gold. While the Olympic opening took place in pouring rain, temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius are expected at the start of the Closing Ceremony in the evening.
Thomas Jolly, the Artistic Director of the Closing Ceremony, worked tirelessly on the choreography for Phoenix's anticipated performance during the event. The international crowd was also excited to see Thomas Jolly's creative direction in other aspects of the ceremony, since he had also masterfully designed the opening ceremony on the Seine.
