- The Olympics are over: here's how the graduation ceremony goes
Fireworks, acrobatics, and international music stars: The organizers aim to conclude the Olympic Games in Paris with a roaring finale, passing the baton to Los Angeles. As with the opening ceremony, few details are officially known ahead of the closing ceremony in the Stade de France in the evening. However, reports suggest that megastars could once again be part of the three-hour show for around 80,000 spectators.
What does the official part of the celebration look like?
The event begins at 21:00 in the Stade de France north of Paris, where the athletes of the Games will be celebrated. As with the opening ceremony, there will be a parade. The German flag will be carried by triathlete Laura Lindemann and canoeist Max Rendschmidt, both of whom won gold.
During the ceremony, the Olympic flag will also be passed from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to her colleague Karen Bass from Los Angeles, which will host the next Summer Olympics in 2028. "We will share a historic moment and send a message to girls all over the world that they can achieve anything," Bass said about the first time the flag is being passed from woman to woman. The Olympic flame will also be extinguished during the ceremony.
What kind of show is expected?
The "Records" celebration will feature several musical performances by renowned international artists, accompanied by over 100 artists, acrobats, dancers, and circus performers. A part of the show is said to take place in the air, but it is unclear if this refers to more than just fireworks.
Thomas Jolly, who planned the spectacular opening ceremony on the Seine, is also responsible for the closing event. He describes the celebration as acrobatic, lyrical, and very visual, with the aim of traveling back to the origins of the Games and into the future. "I have designed a performance in which the Games disappear once again, but someone finds them again."
Which stars will be there?
The city of Paris announced that actor Tom Cruise is expected at the closing ceremony. According to the French newspaper "Le Parisien," Cruise is involved in the symbolic handover of the Olympic flag to LA. The American action star is said to be planning a stunt on the facade of the Stade de France and has already filmed a scene around the famous "Hollywood" sign in Los Angeles. There have also been reports in France of performances by French bands Air and Phoenix.
What is known about the US part of the event?
In the part organized by the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic organizers, there will be a performance by rapper Snoop Dogg, among others, and numerous US sports legends are expected, including basketball legend Michael Jordan. Casey Wasserman, chairman of LA28, has also promised "some surprises."
The US portal "Variety" reported that performances by Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are also planned. The singer-songwriter and the rock band are said to be seen from LA in a mix of recorded performance and live appearance.
What about security?
Even during the closing weekend of the Olympics, a particular focus is on security. Around 30,000 security personnel are deployed in the Greater Paris area, with 2,000 securing the closing ceremony.
The closing ceremony in Paris will take place at the Stade de France, where athletes will be celebrated and international music stars like Tom Cruise are expected to attend. Cruise is reportedly involved in the symbolic handover of the Olympic flag and has filmed a stunt related to the event. Additionally, performers such as Air and Phoenix from France, and Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers from the US, are anticipated to be part of the show.
