France bids reluctant farewell to dazzling Paris Olympics
PARIS — The Paris Olympics concluded on Monday with a grand closing ceremony featuring Tom Cruise’s dramatic entrance and a sense of bittersweet farewell. Athletes departed praising the Games for their vibrant spirit and smooth execution despite initial concerns. Paris showcased stunning temporary venues, leaving a lasting impression as it handed over the Olympic flag to Los Angeles for 2028. With the U.S. topping the medal table with 126 medals, the Games were hailed as a “Seine-sational” success, transforming France’s mood and setting a high bar for the next host city.
PARIS — France bade a reluctant farewell on Monday to an "enchanting" two weeks of Olympic action as athletes departed from Paris, praising this spectacular edition of the Games that reinvigorated the global event.
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise added a touch of glamour to the closing ceremony on Sunday, descending into the national stadium on a wire, grabbing the Olympic flag, and riding off on a motorbike, delighting the crowd of 71,500.
The final act brought relief as the Games, initially shadowed by concerns over potential terror threats, strikes, and protests, concluded smoothly. There was also a tinge of sadness as the vibrant celebration came to an end.
The front page of France's largest sports newspaper, L'Equipe, urged readers to "Keep the flame alive," celebrating new national swimming hero Leon Marchand and the overall spirit of the Games.
Athletes, including U.S. fencer Magda Skarbonkiewicz, were packing up after a late night, with Paris’s airports preparing for a surge of travelers. Many praised the temporary sports venues scattered across Paris, which will also host the Paralympics starting August 28, with many tickets still available.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach lauded the Paris Games as "sport at its best" and a "Seine-sational" event, emphasizing the positive impact on France’s national mood, especially following a political crisis triggered by President Emmanuel Macron’s snap elections.
Le Monde described the Games as a period of "fervor and happiness" for the capital and the country, while The Times highlighted Paris’s success in making the Olympics look more stunning than ever.
As Paris hands over the Olympic flag to Los Angeles for the next Games, anticipation builds over how Tinseltown will match the grandeur of this "blockbuster Parisian party." The closing ceremony saw American gymnast Simone Biles and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass officially pass the flag, with the U.S. ultimately topping the medal table with 126 medals, narrowly beating China’s 91.