The 2024 Olympics are drawing to a close Sunday with an elaborate closing ceremony at the Stade de France just north of Paris.It’s a more traditional setting after the Seine River was used for the audacious opening ceremony, but don’t expect it to be dull. There’ll be over a hundred performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists, the organizers say. French indie band “Phoenix” performsWith an artistic show that celebrated Olympic themes, golden fireworks and thousands of athletes partying into the night, the closing ceremony put a final flourish to Paris’ first Games in a century.In their enthusiasm, crowds of athletes rushed the stage during the ceremony’s artistic portion, and stadium announcements in French and English urged them to double back. Some of them stayed, surrounding Grammy-winning French pop-rock band Phoenix as they played, as security and volunteers worked to clear the stage. Time for a light showThe lights are going down. The orchestra is tuning in. A light show is going on on the roof of the Stade de France.Last medals awardedThe closing ceremony saw the awarding of the last medals — each embedded with a chunk of the Eiffel Tower. Fittingly for the first Olympics that aimed for gender parity, they all went to women — the gold, silver and bronze medalists from the women’s marathon earlier Sunday.Bach hung them around the necks of race winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, silver’s Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia and bronze’s Hellen Obiri of Kenya.Katie Ledecky and Nick Mead carry American flagAs night fell, athletes marched into the stadium waving the flags of their 205 countries and territories — a display of global unity in a world gripped by global tensions and conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza. The stadium screens carried the words, “Together, united for peace.” With the 329 medal events finished, the expected 9,000 athletes — many wearing their shiny medals — and team staffers who filled the arena danced and cheered to the thumping beats.Léon Marchand carries the Olympic flameFrench swimmer Léon Marchand, wearing a black suit and tie, walks around the Olympic cauldron.He picked up a lantern carrying the Olympic flame. At the same time, the Stade de France was roaring as Marchand was shown on the giant screens. Marchand was perhaps the most celebrated athlete at the Paris 2024 Olympics with 4 gold medals and 1 bronze medal.Zaho de Sagazan belts ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’The show is under way. French singer Zaho de Sagazan is singing the famous French song “Sous le ciel de Paris” in the Jardin des Tuileries, next to the Olympic cauldron, in the heart of Paris.”The Last Supper” opening ceremony scenes were left out of a video montageThe video montage from the opening ceremony showed boats, cyclists and more. But it omitted the scenes with drag performers and others that were criticized for perceived references to “The Last Supper.”The closing ceremony is underwayWhistles and chants of “Allez!” are the soundtrack at Stade de France, and a few sections of fans did the wave. It has been popular at this Olympics.Video highlights of the opening ceremony are being shown on video screens, a reminder of the dazzling show on the Seine from July 26..Macron, Bach enter Stade de FranceFrench President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron arrived in the Stade de France as fans cheered.They were joined by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, IOC chief Thomas Bach, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and five-time Olympic Champion Martin Fourcade, who passed on the Olympic torch to kick off the 2024 Games.Security clears the way for performersSecurity has lined the perimeter around the stage, and musicians with their instruments are walking out onto the field. A few minutes from getting this show underway.Fans have started a slow clap with a couple of minutes before show time.Paris “waves” goodbyeThe crowd is doing the wave 10 minutes ahead of the closing ceremony.Who’s performing at the closing ceremony?H.E.R., the five-time Grammy winner, is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France as part of the closing ceremony.Other performances remain a mystery. Organizers said “the participation of world-renowned singers will complete the picture,” but didn’t elaborate on who those singers could be.They added: “Part of the show will take place in the air, while the giant sets, costumes and spectacular lighting effects will take spectators on a journey through time, both past and future.”Sunset in Paris has been a special moment during these OlympicsThe sun is setting on the Paris Olympics for the last time. By day, Paris shines. But at night, it sparkles.And perhaps rarely so noticeably as during these past two and a half weeks.Exhibit 1: the Eiffel Tower, of course. As the sun sets each night, the lights come on, enhancing the beauty of the iron latticework. But the “ooh” moment at beach volleyball, played in an epically photogenic stadium under the tower, would come at 10 p.m. when the music would stop and announcers would ask the crowd to turn to the Eiffel (were they looking anywhere else?) and light their phones.Exhibit 2: The gleaming orb that seemed to float in the night sky above the Tuileries gardens – the Olympic cauldron, a 7-meter (23-feet) diameter ring of fire (not a real flame) supported by a giant air balloon.Large crowds formed each night in the gardens and in the neighboring courtyard of the Louvre museum — also stunningly floodlit — and wait for the launch, sometimes watching groups of breakers dance.A wave of gasps rose up from an appreciative crowd of not just tourists, but also hardened Parisians, awed by the nightly light show in their hometown.No rain for the closing ceremonyThe rain that soaked athletes and observers at the opening ceremony is a distant memory. It’s sunny and warm at 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Sunset in Saint-Denis is 9:12 p.m. — 10 minutes or so into the show.Workers are still finishing the stage at Stade de FranceWith less than 30 minutes left before the closing ceremony, workers are still on hands and knees finishing the stage in the middle of the stadium. The stands are roughly half full, with more than 70,000 fans expected to be in attendance.A helicopter is circling overhead. Officials have said security is a priority as the Olympics reach the finish line.
The 2024 Olympics are drawing to a close Sunday with an elaborate closing ceremony at the Stade de France just north of Paris.
It’s a more traditional setting after the Seine River was used for the audacious opening ceremony, but don’t expect it to be dull. There’ll be over a hundred performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists, the organizers say.
French indie band “Phoenix” performs
With an artistic show that celebrated Olympic themes, golden fireworks and thousands of athletes partying into the night, the closing ceremony put a final flourish to Paris’ first Games in a century.
In their enthusiasm, crowds of athletes rushed the stage during the ceremony’s artistic portion, and stadium announcements in French and English urged them to double back. Some of them stayed, surrounding Grammy-winning French pop-rock band Phoenix as they played, as security and volunteers worked to clear the stage.
Time for a light show
The lights are going down. The orchestra is tuning in. A light show is going on on the roof of the Stade de France.
Last medals awarded
The closing ceremony saw the awarding of the last medals — each embedded with a chunk of the Eiffel Tower. Fittingly for the first Olympics that aimed for gender parity, they all went to women — the gold, silver and bronze medalists from the women’s marathon earlier Sunday.
Bach hung them around the necks of race winner Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, silver’s Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia and bronze’s Hellen Obiri of Kenya.
Katie Ledecky and Nick Mead carry American flag
As night fell, athletes marched into the stadium waving the flags of their 205 countries and territories — a display of global unity in a world gripped by global tensions and conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza. The stadium screens carried the words, “Together, united for peace.” With the 329 medal events finished, the expected 9,000 athletes — many wearing their shiny medals — and team staffers who filled the arena danced and cheered to the thumping beats.
Léon Marchand carries the Olympic flame
French swimmer Léon Marchand, wearing a black suit and tie, walks around the Olympic cauldron.
He picked up a lantern carrying the Olympic flame. At the same time, the Stade de France was roaring as Marchand was shown on the giant screens. Marchand was perhaps the most celebrated athlete at the Paris 2024 Olympics with 4 gold medals and 1 bronze medal.
Zaho de Sagazan belts ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’
The show is under way. French singer Zaho de Sagazan is singing the famous French song “Sous le ciel de Paris” in the Jardin des Tuileries, next to the Olympic cauldron, in the heart of Paris.
“The Last Supper” opening ceremony scenes were left out of a video montage
The video montage from the opening ceremony showed boats, cyclists and more. But it omitted the scenes with drag performers and others that were criticized for perceived references to “The Last Supper.”
The closing ceremony is underway
Whistles and chants of “Allez!” are the soundtrack at Stade de France, and a few sections of fans did the wave. It has been popular at this Olympics.
Video highlights of the opening ceremony are being shown on video screens, a reminder of the dazzling show on the Seine from July 26..
Macron, Bach enter Stade de France
French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Marie-Claude Macron arrived in the Stade de France as fans cheered.
They were joined by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, IOC chief Thomas Bach, Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and five-time Olympic Champion Martin Fourcade, who passed on the Olympic torch to kick off the 2024 Games.
Security clears the way for performers
Security has lined the perimeter around the stage, and musicians with their instruments are walking out onto the field. A few minutes from getting this show underway.
Fans have started a slow clap with a couple of minutes before show time.
Paris “waves” goodbye
The crowd is doing the wave 10 minutes ahead of the closing ceremony.
Who’s performing at the closing ceremony?
H.E.R., the five-time Grammy winner, is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live at the Stade de France as part of the closing ceremony.
Other performances remain a mystery. Organizers said “the participation of world-renowned singers will complete the picture,” but didn’t elaborate on who those singers could be.
They added: “Part of the show will take place in the air, while the giant sets, costumes and spectacular lighting effects will take spectators on a journey through time, both past and future.”
Sunset in Paris has been a special moment during these Olympics
The sun is setting on the Paris Olympics for the last time. By day, Paris shines. But at night, it sparkles.
And perhaps rarely so noticeably as during these past two and a half weeks.
Exhibit 1: the Eiffel Tower, of course. As the sun sets each night, the lights come on, enhancing the beauty of the iron latticework. But the “ooh” moment at beach volleyball, played in an epically photogenic stadium under the tower, would come at 10 p.m. when the music would stop and announcers would ask the crowd to turn to the Eiffel (were they looking anywhere else?) and light their phones.
Exhibit 2: The gleaming orb that seemed to float in the night sky above the Tuileries gardens – the Olympic cauldron, a 7-meter (23-feet) diameter ring of fire (not a real flame) supported by a giant air balloon.
Large crowds formed each night in the gardens and in the neighboring courtyard of the Louvre museum — also stunningly floodlit — and wait for the launch, sometimes watching groups of breakers dance.
A wave of gasps rose up from an appreciative crowd of not just tourists, but also hardened Parisians, awed by the nightly light show in their hometown.
No rain for the closing ceremony
The rain that soaked athletes and observers at the opening ceremony is a distant memory. It’s sunny and warm at 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Sunset in Saint-Denis is 9:12 p.m. — 10 minutes or so into the show.
Workers are still finishing the stage at Stade de France
With less than 30 minutes left before the closing ceremony, workers are still on hands and knees finishing the stage in the middle of the stadium. The stands are roughly half full, with more than 70,000 fans expected to be in attendance.
A helicopter is circling overhead. Officials have said security is a priority as the Olympics reach the finish line.
