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Victor Petkov
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Tom Cruise gets the torch for LA 2028 in Paris closing ceremony
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The movie star descended from the top of the Stade de France, looking like a Hollywood movie scene

In a dazzling spectacle that brought a touch of Hollywood to the closing ceremony of the Paris Games, movie star Tom Cruise rappelled from the roof of France’s national stadium and received the Olympic flag, marking the official handover to the next host city, Los Angeles. As Cruise made his dramatic 50-meter descent to the floor of the Stade de France, Grammy-winning R&B artist H.E.R. teased the “Mission Impossible” soundtrack, drawing gasps from the crowd in a finale that seamlessly blended traditional elements with the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown.

While Paris captivated the world with iconic backdrops such as the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles, Los Angeles quickly turned to its star power, promising a Games infused with the allure of A-list celebrities. The closing ceremony marked the end of an Olympic Games that reinvigorated the Olympic brand, offering thrilling sports moments right in the heart of the French capital. The Paris Games were a stark contrast to the challenges faced by Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and the subdued atmosphere of Tokyo’s COVID-impacted event.

The two-week sporting extravaganza culminated in a fierce battle between China and the United States for supremacy on the medal table, a contest that went down to the wire. In a poignant echo of the U.S. men’s basketball team’s victory over France, the American women’s basketball team delivered a gut-wrenching one-point defeat to the French, securing their 40th gold medal and clinching the top spot in the medal standings.

As Cruise made his exit from the stadium on a motorbike, the closing ceremony transitioned to a prerecorded video of the 62-year-old actor skydiving down to the Hollywood sign. In a breathtaking wide shot, the iconic sign revealed the Olympic rings, symbolizing the impending arrival of the Games in Los Angeles. The Olympic flag then made its way through the city, passed between past and present U.S. Olympians, and ultimately arriving at a beach party where LA music legends the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, and Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre performed.

Acknowledging the high standard set by Paris, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the city’s commitment to diversity and its unique advantage of having Hollywood at its disposal. As James Rutledge, a 59-year-old former banker wearing a Team USA t-shirt outside the Stade de France, put it, “They’ve got a high bar to reach. A lot of work to do. Hollywood next? That’s something to play with.”