Olympics 2024 closing ceremony highlights: France's Leon Marchand blows out Olympic flame; Paris hands over baton to LA

Tom Cruise handed the Olympic flag to LA while France's Leon Marchand extinguished the Olympic flame.

The monumental Stade de France was turned into a concert hall as 'Seine-national' Paris bid 'au revoir' to the Olympics 2024 on Monday. Hollywood legend Tom Cruise abseil down the Stade de France after Paris handed over the Olympic baton to Los Angeles - the host of the Summer Games 2028. As many as 14 gold medals were up for grabs on the final day of the Paris Olympics 2024. The 80,000-seater was packed to the rafters for the Hollywood ending of the Paris Olympics. A-listers Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg headlined the closing ceremony during the LA handover of the Olympic Games.

‘Mission Possible’ for Tom Cruise in Paris

Hollywood legend Cruise was heavily tipped to perform the spectacular stunt sequence for the passing of the Summer Games from Paris to Los Angeles. The traditional gesture involved handing off the Olympic flag from one city to the other. Beaming with pride, Cruise high-fived athletes after making the roughly 160-foot descent. The celebrated actor then took the US flag from LA Mayor Karen Bass, who Simone Biles accompanied.

Thomas Bach uses speech to call for ‘culture of peace’

With his speech, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach called for a 'culture of peace' in a war-torn world. “We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace, but the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world,” Bach said. “Let us live this culture of peace every single day,” Bach added.

Paris passes the Olympic baton to Los Angeles

While the opening ceremony of the Paris Games 2024 was held on the river Seine, the French capital handed over the reins to 2028 hosts Los Angeles with the closing ceremony staged in the den of the French national football team. The famous venue hosted athletics events after rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics. The Olympic flame was extinguished by local hero and the most decorated male Olympian at the Summer Games - Leon Marchand. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo was entrusted with giving the flag to her Los Angeles counterpart - Karen Bass, a symbolic handover to the next host city of the Olympics.

PR Sreejesh joins Manu Bhake as India's flagbearer at closing ceremony

Hockey legend PR Sreejesh joined star shooter Manu Bhaker as the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent for the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief PT Usha revealed that even javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra wanted to see the retiring legend as a flag bearer. World Champion Neeraj bagged India's first and only silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Sreejesh retired from international hockey after India's bronze medal-winning win at the Summer Games, ending a glorious career spanning 18 years.

Here’s all you need to know Paris Olympics 2024 Closing Ceremony:

-France's Leon Marchand extinguished the Olympic flame.

-International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach saluted the athletes and declared the Summer Games closed.

-The IOC president also called for a ‘culture of peace’ in the war-torn world.

-Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg headlined the LA takeover of the Summer Games.

-Tom Cruise gave the Paris Olympic Games a Hollywood ending.

-Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. performed the US national anthem in Paris.

-Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the efforts of the Indian contingent.

-USA upstaged China to top the final medal standings at Paris Olympics.

India's campaign at Paris Games 2024

India's campaign ended on Saturday as Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar and Reetika Hooda wrapped up proceedings. Aditi and Diksha finished outside the top-ten in women's individual golf and Reetika crashed to a quarter-final defeat in her wrestling category, and later it was confirmed she would not make it to the repechage round.

Meanwhile, fans were also awaiting the CAS verdict on Vinesh Phogat's joint-silver medal appeal. The CAS was expected to give the verdict by 9:30 PM IST, but went on to postpone the decision to August 13. The wrestler was disqualified ahead of her gold medal bout, due to being 100gm overweight than the eligible requirement.

Medal for Vinesh?

India bid farewell to the Paris 2024 campaign with six medals. Shooter Bhaker bagged two bronze medals - one in individual shooting and the other with Sarabjot in mixed team. Swapnil Kusale also won a shooting bronze. Neeraj clinched silver in men's javelin throw and the men's hockey team defeated Spain to claim bronze. Aman Sehrawat also grabbed a bronze in wrestling. If the CAS verdict goes to Vinesh's side, then we will see India's medal tally increase to seven.