SAINT-DENIS, France — Paris closed out two and a half extraordinary weeks of Olympic sports and emotion with a boisterous, star-studded show in France's national stadium on Sunday, handing over hosting duties for the Summer Games to the next city in line: Los Angeles in 2028.
In a display of Hollywood showmanship, actor Tom Cruise descended from the top of the French stadium to the «Mission Impossible» theme song, then shook hands with athletes before taking the Olympic flag from star gymnast Simone Biles, putting it on the back of a motorcycle and driving out of the stadium.
In a prerecorded ride past the Eiffel Tower, Cruise drove his bike onto a plane and then skydived out of it over the Hollywood Hills.
Three rings were added to the O's of the famed Hollywood sign to create five interlaced Olympic rings. It was just one of the highlights of the closing ceremony that put a final flourish to Paris' first Games in a century, with an artistic show that celebrated Olympic themes, golden fireworks and thousands of athletes partying into the night.