Topline
Next weekend’s Olympics closing ceremony is expected to include more than 100 acrobats and aerial performers, award the final Olympic champions their medals and include a sneak peak of what’s to come for the 2028 games in Los Angeles—and it will reportedly feature an action-movie-worthy stunt from Hollywood star Tom Cruise.
The Eiffel Tower and the Place Du Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris … [+]
Key Facts
The closing ceremony will start at 3 p.m. EDT at the Stade de France, the country’s national stadium, where rugby sevens and track and field events have been hosted.
Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 committee, said the ceremony will be “solemn and emotional, but it will also be a time for celebration… Innovative, surprising and brilliant, these ceremonies already promise to be very powerful.”
Other than promises of a dazzling stage performance and hints about several pre-filmed Cruise stunts, most of the ceremony remains shrouded in mystery more than a week before it’s set to begin.
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When And Where Can You Watch The Olympic Closing Ceremony?
Live coverage will start at 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 11 and the closing ceremony will start at 3 p.m. It will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock and re-broadcast during primetime coverage at 7 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock.
What Will Happen At The Closing Ceremony?
Thomas Jolly, the same creative director who managed the much-buzzed-about opening ceremony, has named the closing show ” Records.” Performers will include acrobats, circus artists, dancers, gymnasts and aerial ballet dancers who are expected to perform atop metal structures representing the Olympic rings. The ceremonies will also include the traditional parade of flags and athletes, speeches, a final medal ceremony and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame before the Olympic flag is ceremoniously handed over to Los Angeles, which will host the summer games in 2028. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will attend the ceremony.
Who Will Perform At The Olympics Closing Ceremony?
“World-renowned singers” will take the stage, according to the official Olympic website, but no names have been confirmed. This week it was reported that Cruise, who is filming “Mission: Impossible 8” in Europe, will perform a stunt at the closing ceremony. A clip of the movie star skydiving to the Hollywood sign is expected to play a role in the handoff to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and Cruise was reportedly spotted filming a scene—possibly for the ceremony—in May that included a motorcycle and large flag.
Who Is Hosting The Closing Ceremony?
Jimmy Fallon of “The Tonight Show” and longtime sports reporter Mike Tirico will co-host the ceremony. Former Olympians Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski—who have built a loyal fan base as commentators since they retired—and NBC Sports’ Terry Gannon will be commentating.
What Medals Are Given Out At The Olympics Closing Ceremony?
Athletes who compete on Aug. 11, the same day as the closing ceremony, may be awarded their medals during the ceremony. The marathon final, basketball, volleyball and water polo are among the sports with medals being awarded the day of the ceremony.
Further Reading
Mary Roeloffs is a Forbes reporter who covers breaking news with a frequent focus on the entertainment industry, streaming, sports news, publishing, pop culture and climate change. She joined Forbes in 2023 and lives in Dallas. She’s covered Netflix’s hottest documentaries, a surge of assaults reported on social media, the most popular books of the year and how climate change stands to impact the way we eat. Roeloffs was included on Editor & Publisher Magazine’s “ 25 Under 30” list in 2023 and worked covering local news in the greater Boston area from 2017 to 2023. She graduated with a double major in political science and journalism from Northeastern University. Follow Roeloffs for continued coverage of streaming wars, pop culture news and trending topics.
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