It’s Mission Impossible meets the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the latter got a thrilling taste of Hollywood during its closing ceremony on 11 August (or 12 August, depending on region). Action star Tom Cruise, known for executing his own stunts in most of his top films, rappelled off the roof of Stade de France and was lowered down to the arena floor on a wire.
The daredevil feat comes after earlier reports floated his involvement in the grand spectacle, marking a dramatic handover to Los Angeles, which will host the 2028 Summer Games. Following the daring 48-metre descent, the Top Gun star high-fived athletes and took the flag from L.A. mayor Karen Bass, accompanied by American gymnast Simone Biles, fixed it to a motorcycle, and cruised out of the stadium through a crowd of athletes.
And while the mission was accomplished, the performance had more flair in store.
Transitioning to a pre-taped segment of the Top Gun star riding through Paris, the closing ceremony showed him skydiving out of a plane with a Red Hot Chili Peppers soundtrack and down to the Hollywood sign, where the Olympics rings were incorporated into the two “o”s.
Cruise wasn’t the only celebrity to bid farewell to the 2024 Paris Olympics, with musical acts Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre performing for the crowd. Snoop, in particular, was a regular fixture at this year’s event, joining the spectator stands for various sporting events, including skateboarding and breakdancing — a first in Olympic history.
Moving forward, the world’s biggest sporting event will be held at L.A. from 14 to 30 July 2028. The city previously hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, which would make it a three-time Summer Games host.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
