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PARIS: Hollywood star Tom Cruise descended from the roof of the Stade de France at the climax of the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Sunday, reluctantly leaving France and bidding farewell to what is hailed as one of the most successful Olympic Games in history.
Cruise descended from a tightrope in front of 71,500 spectators, grabbed an Olympic flag and jumped on a motorbike to the delight of athletes and fans. The Mission: Impossible star boarded a plane, parachuted into the California city and then adorned the iconic Hollywood sign with the Olympic rings, heralding the 2028 Games to be held in Los Angeles. Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer Billie Eilish and rappers Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre then performed a mini concert on a beach surrounded by the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean. French and European newspapers hailed it as the perfect end to a fascinating two weeks of events that blended sports and culture while modernizing the Olympic format.
“Keep the torch burning,” L’Equipe, France’s largest sports newspaper, headlined its front page with new national hero Leon Marchand and urged the French people to keep up the spirit of “these two weeks of enchanting time.” Le Monde also reflected on France’s future and its pessimistic tendencies in the light of two weeks of celebrations, successful sports events and almost perfect organization. “The Paris Olympics brought more than two weeks of enthusiasm and joy to the capital and the country, which was unexpected and appreciated, as it was held after a political period dominated by decline and xenophobia,” the newspaper said. The closing ceremony marked the beginning of the four-year countdown to the Los Angeles Olympics, with American gymnastics icon Simone Biles officially handing over the Olympic flag with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Earlier, IOC President Thomas Bach said the Paris Olympics were “the best in the world of sports.”
“These Games have been thrilling from beginning to end,” Bach said. “Or dare I say: the Seine Olympics,” the IOC president quipped, punning on the river that runs through Paris and was the setting for the opening ceremony. “Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you,” Bach added. Around 9,000 athletes packed into the stadium as 270 actors and artists performed for a ceremony hailed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport. “We knew you would be great, but you were amazing,” Paris 2024 organising chief Tony Estanguet told the athletes. “You made us happy, you made us feel alive – a moment that the world needed so much.” – ATHLETES’ PARTY – The ceremony began when French swimming hero Marchand – winner of four gold medals at the Games – took the Olympic flame from the pylon in the Tuileries Gardens and began his march to the stadium. One of the early highlights of the Games was when local rugby hero Antoine Dupont led the host nation to gold in rugby sevens. He walked into the stadium carrying a French flag as athletes swarmed the field. The opening ceremony lasted 17 days, with the sporting events constantly offering awe-inspiring spectacle against the backdrop of Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles. In stark contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony, Sunday’s celebrations kicked off as a golden sunset bathed the French capital. On the final day of sporting events, the U.S. women’s basketball team narrowly beat France 67-66 to win the final gold medal of the Games, and the U.S. beat China in the medal match to take the top spot.
The United States won the women’s basketball title for the eighth time in a row at the Olympics, bringing the U.S. and China to 40 gold medals each. However, the Americans ultimately topped the medal table with 126 medals, with China second with 91. – MARATHON MAGIC – Dutch distance running star Sifan Hassan won a thrilling victory in the women’s marathon on Sunday. Hassan competed in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon in Paris, a move that many considered a crazy gamble. But in a jaw-dropping sprint, Hassan overtook Ethiopia’s Tigste Assefa to win the gold medal by three seconds in an Olympic record time of 2 hours 22 minutes 55 seconds. She dropped to the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial building in central Paris, then grabbed a Dutch flag to celebrate the extraordinary achievement. Hassan was awarded the gold medal at the closing ceremony.
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