Before an Olympic cauldron still aflame, Zaho de Sagazan kicked off the evening with a performance of Sous le ciel de Paris, a nod to Edith Piaf and a reflection of Céline Dion's tribute during the opening ceremony.
Léon Marchand, who secured four Olympic titles during these Games, took center stage with the lantern containing the Olympic flame, which had been burning since mid-April in Olympia, Greece. After traversing France since May 9th, the Toulouse native carried the flame towards the Stade de France, extinguishing the cauldron behind him.
Following a reimagined rendition of the French national anthem by the Maîtrise de Fontainebleau and the Divertimento Orchestra led by conductor Zahia Ziouani, the delegations entered the stadium in a joyous parade, accompanied by volunteers who had served athletes and spectators alike for two weeks. The volunteers were then honored on stage, receiving applause from the 70,000-strong crowd.
The spectacle, conceived by Thomas Jolly, then unfolded. The enigmatic Golden Voyager descended from the sky to receive the Greek flag from a masked figure, who had also appeared during the opening ceremony. Staying true to the innovative spirit of these Games, pianist Alain Roche performed vertically, soaring through the air in another homage to the sky.
In a futuristic show infused with mythological references, dancers assembled the Olympic rings on the ground before they were elevated to the heights of the Stade de France. Musical performances by Phoenix, Air, Kavinsky, and Angèle added to the atmosphere.
Tony Estanguet, surrounded by IOC President Thomas Bach and athletes from all continents, delivered the closing speech. The president of the organizing committee, himself an Olympic champion, praised the athletes, organizers, volunteers, and especially the audience. "France rose to the occasion. We thought of ourselves as a nation of relentless complainers, but we woke up in a country of passionate fans who never want to stop singing," he said with a smile.
Finally, in a dramatic entrance, Tom Cruise, suspended from a rope, appeared out of nowhere to take on the "mission impossible" of carrying the Olympic flag to Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Games. Riding his motorcycle through the crowd of athletes, he advanced into the darkness. The flag symbolically crossed the Atlantic and arrived at Venice Beach, where it was welcomed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Billie Eilish. The celebration now continues across the ocean.