Paris Olympics closing ceremony with sea of flags and karaoke
The German flag was carried by triathlete Laura Lindemann and canoeist Max Rendschmid, both of whom had won gold. Around 10,500 athletes from 203 countries participated in the Olympic Games in the French capital.
Singer Zaho de Sagazan opened the cultural program of the ceremony with the French song "Sous le ciel de Paris" (Under the sky of Paris). The celebrated French swimmer Léon Marchand received the Olympic flame in a lantern and carried it into the Stade de France.
While the Olympic opening took place in pouring rain, the closing ceremony took place at temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius.
The second part of the closing ceremony was eagerly awaited, as it is traditionally designed by the organizers of the next Olympic Summer Games. Hollywood star Tom Cruise was set to play a major role, having been in Paris for several days: US media reported that the 62-year-old actor would abseil from the roof of the stadium while carrying the Olympic flag. Cruise had already filmed video sequences on both sides of the Atlantic for the symbolic handover of the baton to Los Angeles.
The cultural program featured a performance of the French song "Sous le ciel de Paris" by singer Zaho de Sagazan, celebrating the beauty of Paris. During the closing ceremony, the next host city of the Olympic Summer Games was revealed, with Los Angeles set to take over from Paris.
