Stars bring 'sensational' Paris Olympics to an end

Stars of sport, surface and euphony came together astatine nan Paris 2024 closing ceremonial to bring nan 33rd Olympic Games to an end.

Actor Tom Cruise descended from nan tile of Stade de France to cod nan Olympic emblem arsenic portion of nan handover to nan American metropolis of Los Angeles, which will big nan adjacent Games successful 2028, earlier departing connected a motorcycle.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre past performed connected Venice Beach arsenic portion of a star-studded euphony group to reason nan ceremony.

Earlier, wrong nan stadium successful Paris, golden medallists Alex Yee and Bryony Page were Great Britain's flagbearers astatine nan ceremony.

Yee won nan men's triathlon successful melodramatic fashion, while Page won Britain's first ever Olympic trampoline gold.

Great Britain vanished seventh successful nan badge array pinch 14 gold, 22 metallic and 29 bronze. Their last tally of 65 medals was 1 much than nan 64 they won astatine Tokyo 2020.

In his closing speech, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach reflected connected a "sensational" Games.

The 2024 Paralympics will beryllium held successful nan French superior from 28 August to 8 September.

Bach, who will step down arsenic IOC president successful 2025, said Paris 2024 had been "sensational, aliases situation I say, 'Seine-sational'" - a play connected words referencing nan stream which flows done nan big city.

He added that they were "Olympic Games of a caller era" arsenic nan first "delivered wholly nether our Olympic schedule reforms: younger, much urban, much inclusive, much sustainable and nan first Olympic Games pinch afloat gender parity".

The German praised athletes for their "simply amazing" performances, saying they showed "what greatness we humans are tin of".

He continued: "During each this time, you lived peacefully together nether 1 tile successful nan Olympic Village. You embraced each other. You respected each other, moreover if your countries are divided by warfare and conflict. You created a civilization of peace.

"This inspired each of america and billions of group astir nan globe. Thank you for making america dream. Thank you for making america judge successful a amended world for everyone.

"We cognize that nan Olympic Games cannot create peace. But nan Olympic Games tin create a civilization of bid that inspires nan world. This is why I telephone connected everyone who shares this Olympic spirit: fto america unrecorded this civilization of bid each azygous day."

There was besides typical praise for nan 45,000 volunteers who assisted during nan Games, which began pinch a rain-soaked opening ceremony on nan Seine connected 26 July.

As good arsenic reflecting connected nan Olympics successful Paris, nan closing ceremonial provided a showcase for Los Angeles, which will big nan Games for a 3rd clip successful 2028.

R&B creator H.E.R. performed nan American nationalist anthem wrong Stade de France earlier viewers were transported to LA.

Mountain biker Kate Courtney, way and section fable Michael Johnson and skateboarder Jagger Eaton took nan Olympic emblem connected a circuit of nan metropolis - visiting sites specified arsenic nan Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Venice Beach - while Cruise was pictured successful beforehand of nan iconic Hollywood sign, complete pinch Olympic rings.

Rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been working arsenic a typical correspondent for American tv web NBC during Paris 2024, performed alongside Dr Dre arsenic portion of a memorable finale that whetted nan appetite for 4 years' time.