The most spectacular images from the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony
Ellen Manning
The Paris 2024 Olympics drew to a close on Sunday night with a star-studded ceremony as they were dubbed "sensational" and having ushered in a "new era" of games.
After 16 days of competition, the Olympics reached its conclusion in a showpiece staged at the Stade de France, which included Hollywood magic courtesy of Tom Cruise who descended into the stadium from the roof to help the city hand over the reins to Los Angeles for the 2028 Games.
US R&B artist H.E.R. sang the US national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner, as the handover ceremony got under way, as Californian natives Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg also featured.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Games Paris 2024 were a celebration of the athletes and of sport at its best.
“The first Olympic Games delivered completely under our Olympic agenda reforms: younger, more urban, more inclusive, more sustainable. The first Olympic Games with full gender parity.
“These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish – or dare I say: these were Seine-sational Olympic Games from start to finish. The Olympic Games Paris 2024 were Olympic Games of a new era.”
The star-studded closing ceremony took place at Paris's Stade de France. (AP) (Takumi Harada, Associated Press)
The ceremony featured Tom Cruise who was lowered into the stadium . (AP) (Martin Meissner, Associated Press)
Sunday’s finale kicked off with an orchestral opening before flagbearers and athletes were welcomed into the stadium. (AP) (David Goldman, Associated Press)
The ceremony included artistic dancers and light attraction. (AP) (Hiroto Sekiguchi, Associated Press)
French indie rock band Phoenix perform at the closing ceremony. (ABACAPRESS.COM) (ABACAPRESS, Abaca Press)
Actor Tom Cruise jumped off the roof of the Stade de France as part of the ceremony. (AP) (Fabrizio Bensch, Associated Press)
Other performances included Alain Roche playing the piano while suspended from wires hanging from the stadium's roof. (Sipa USA) (Sipa US, Sipa US)
A 'golden voyager' dressed in an elaborate gold costume was lowered to the stage from the roof to help tell the history of the Olympics. (AP) (AFP7 vía Europa Press, Associated Press)
The voyager was joined on stage by a group of acrobats dressed as alien-like creatures who helped the voyager discover the Olympic rings. (Sipa USA) (Sipa US, Sipa US)
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach hailed a 'sensational' Games. (Panoramic / DPPI Media) (DPPI, DPPI Media)
Thomas Mars, singer of French Indie Rock band Phoenix, with the athletes during the ceremony. (Getty) (VCG via Getty Images)
Sunday’s finale kicked off with an orchestral opening before flagbearers and athletes were welcomed into the stadium. (Getty Images) (VCG via Getty Images)
Bach praised the athletes for their performances and for inspiring a 'culture of peace' throughout the Games. (Getty) (VCG via Getty Images)
A photograph of Swimming Gold medalist Leon Marchand was projected in Montmartre as the closing ceremony took place. (Getty) (Ryan Pierse via Getty Images)
Performers told the story of the Olympics during the ceremony, ahead of the handover for the Los Angeles games. (Getty) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Flag bearers from all countries took to the stadium floor as the games came to a close. (Getty) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Tom Cruise entered the stadium on a motorbike with the Olympic flag attached. (AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A spectacular firework display closed the games. (Getty) (Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
During his speech, Thomas Bach declared Paris 2024 a 'new era' of Olympic Games. (Getty) (BSR Agency via Getty Images)
Paris was lit up by fireworks during the grand finale that marked the end of the 2024 games. (Getty) (picture alliance via Getty Images)
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