Paris closes out Olympics with star-studded show, featuring Tom Cruise

The French capital made spectacular use of its cityscape for its first Games in 100 years.

The above is so true: watching the events while seeing the Paris cityscape made the TV experience even better. Bravo Paris!

Congrats to Paris and France for fantastic Olympics!!!

Well done. The biggest star of the show was Team Japan with all off the medals they won. They are the talk of the town in Paris. For a smaller country with a smaller population, they won medals in every type of event.

Thank goodness it’s over.

I agree

@Japantime

You can be proud of Japans efforts without being delusional. There are many other countries that per capita that did far better than Japan. Australia and NZ for example are just 2.

I came for Tom Cruise, I stayed for Tom Cruise.

I've thoroughly enjoyed these Olympic Games. Paris (and Tahiti) did a spectacular job staging the event smoothly and safely.

Also, it was great to be able to see all events live or via replay on NHK and TVer. Free in TVer's case (or NHK if you don't pay your fee I guess).

LA, the ball's in your court.

^oh, and congratulations to all the athletes; medalists and otherwise.

Jolly and his team repeatedly insisted that was never their intention and got backing from Macron, who described himself as “outraged and sad” by the backlash against them.

.

What was their intention?

Was it to show male genitalia to a worldwide audience?

Because that happened…

Paris 2024 is going to be hard to follow. No doubt one of the best games ever held.

I enjoyed the many events immensely and the sportsmanship between athletes was inspirational. Wish I was there for the party, they will all be enjoying this dream that has been Paris 2024.

So sad its all over. I feel like I lost a new found friend.

backlash against them.

How much of that backlash came from pro-Russian Federation backers and religious extremists, the latter with almost no understanding of classic western and actual religious history, instead once again imagining an alternative reality as told to them by their Internet influencers and podcast pundits?

Kurisupisu -

What was their intention?

Was it to show male genitalia to a worldwide audience?

Because that happened…

You still "shocked and outraged" after two weeks? Might just be time to move on.

Well done Paris - it was a very successful games held with French flair. Lots of great moments.

"Portions of the opening ceremony were assailed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, French bishops and others who felt they poked fun at Christianity".

Mission accomplished.

Despite all the naysayers, the Paris Olympics turned out alright

And nothing bad happened. There was no fiasco

A member of NWA representing the USA at the Olympics. I wouldn't have predicted that 30 years ago.

I enjoyed it - aside from the VAW class in the boxing. They really need to fix that. And for the sports that are included for the kids, like skateboarding and breakdancing: make sure Olympic Committees get the message and look for talent in the right places. No breakdancing in LA - its spiritual home, but cricket will be included!

Including a bit of the Eiffel Tower in the medals was a great idea. And despite much fearmongering, it passed off without any aggro. They include 'Imagine' in all Olympics. I hope they make Queen's 'We are the Champions' a permanent fixture too.

The ceremonies were a bit long and opaque in parts, the Seine was a bit polluted, events started a bit late and the screen info was a bit slow (and sometimes wrong, at the rather low-rent Roland-Garros). The Last Supper tableau (instantly recognisable) was fun and irreverent. In short, it was all very French. They did it their way. Plus the backdrop was gorgeous.

Anything that annoys Trump is OK by me. Drag is an important part of British culture, particularly pantos at Christmas, which kids here enjoy. We're not the weird ones, Donald.

Japan is still reaping the rewards from the host city bounce, now without the abuse they were getting at the Tokyo games over the bill. A very impressive medal haul.

Roll on the paras, 28 August - 8 September. Don't miss the wheelchair basketball.

The expensive, grandiose school sports carnival is over again for another 4 years. Congratulations.

I hope they make Queen's 'We are the Champions' a permanent fixture too.

Please no. Aside from this being cliched, the sentiment of "no time for losers" has no place in actual sports.

I hope they make Queen's 'We are the Champions' a permanent fixture too

Please no. Aside from this being cliched, the sentiment of "no time for losers" has no place in actual sports

Good point.

Also, in a competition which awards medals for 2nd and 3rd, ‘no time for losers’ doesn’t make much sense.

“I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Los Angeles," Bach declared.

"Without you there? Deal!" responded the youth of the world.

China really rose to the occasion. Not just in the medal haul but in the way their athletes showed their personality. The girl biting the medal after watching the others on the podium was cute, the badminton player who took a Spanish badge onto the podium to honor her opponent who had to retire injured and best of all the diver Quan Hongchan who was a comic blast every chance she got.

Sounds it went well generally.

I just feel bad for the gymnast who was barred from competing

China really rose to the occasion. Not just in the medal haul but in the way their athletes showed their personality. The girl biting the medal after watching the others on the podium was cute

An athlete biting a medal?

Heartwarming and groundbreaking stuff that.

An athlete biting a medal?

Heartwarming and groundbreaking stuff that

Don’t be so bitter about athletes from countries you don’t like. Unsportsmanlike.

Just enjoy the world’s jaws dropping at Japan’s success with 122 million dancing in the streets enjoying delicious Asahi Super Dry ;)

Yawn.

Re We are the Champions and No time for losers comments -

Every Olympic athlete is a champion. The struggle and striving beyond us mere mortals imaginations, to just make it assures they are all winners.

2nd; 3rd; 4th; ......places are not losers.

Not in the sense of what they have accomplished.

Most athletes are over the moon at having the chance to compete and so many are thrilled with their silver and bronze medals or even making the semis or finals.

The media esp likes to play up only the winners ie gold medalists - but all are the Champions of the World.

My biggest downer of the games was the lack of widespread coverage and highlights and replays of the sensational surfing in Tahiti. Just surfing those monster waves showed insane athleticism, skill and daring.

How many people know of 15-year-old Chinese surfer Siqi Yang who had to beat over 100 competitors in the ISA 2024 world surfing games to make the Olympic cut. And there she was doing it on those waves. Didn't progress - but what a winner.

All of the athletes are winners.

Well done Japan.

I came for Tom Cruise

Please! Get a room!

Wouldn't it be funny if they actually do make fun of the Last Supper painting for the closing?

Can’t wait for Los Angeles. (This excitement is part of the reason why the closing ceremony was better and we had some great moments…)

—

These Summer Games will be known as the DEI Olympics which is far from being a good thing—last time I checked, the Olympics are older than this DEI nonsense, and the Olympic message was always about diversity, unity and peace—some pathetic, ridiculous, confusing, controversial moments, not to mention the horrible conditions in the Olympic village and what the athletes faced daily (thefts, no food, no ACs, etcetera) but you’re lucky, Paris, because at the end of the day, it’s all about the game/sports.

—

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the organizers/Paris a 2. As for the medalists and all the athletes, congratulations/good job! See you in LA!

Phenomenal! Wonderous! For the US!. Many medals and dominate. And great sportsmanship by all others.

These Summer Games will be known as the DEIOlympics

Among whom?

People who watch the same podcasts and follow the same Twitter accounts as you?

Phenomenal! Wonderous! For the US!. Many medals and dominate. And great sportsmanship by all others

So the US team didn’t show great sportsmanship?

Cruise — in his Ethan Hunt persona — wowed by descending from the top of the stadium to electric guitar “Mission Impossible” riffs. Once his feet were back on the ground — and after shaking hands with enthralled athletes — he took the Olympic flag from star gymnast Simone Biles, fixed it to the back of a motorcycle and roared out of the arena.

Clown world..

Thank goodness I didn't waste my time watching such stupidity...

In fact, I saw absolutely nothing of these decadent Olympic games, the most pathetic in history...

In fact, I saw absolutely nothing of these decadent Olympic games, the most pathetic in history...

Surprising.

You usually offer a very mature and balanced view of things weighing up the good and bad.

Wait, did I just read that Tom Cruise roared off on a traditional motorbike with the Olympic flag attached? Pretty sure that goes against the IOC agenda.

Tom: better to just keep on riding bro.

finally it is over, serious it is the worst Olympic i had seen. The best thing is next time we will be in America!! this will be the best part in Olympic ever！

Imagine downvoting "Congrats to Paris and France for fantastic Olympics!!!". Must be the people that didn't get an Olympics.

TokyoLivingToday 11:33 am JST

But if we add the 2 golds from Taiwan and 2 from HK, that's 4 more golds for China..

Technically China won the Paris 2024 Olympics..

TaiwanIsChina reactions...

https://media1.tenor.com/m/lirAMlHkR5YAAAAC/tantrum-throwing-a-fit.gif

LOOOOOOOOL

I don't think about you, so I would ask that you stop thinking about me.

China is increasingly a big difficult for the US to defeat, it is very likely that China will beat the US in gold in the next Olympics and on its own ground..

Do you think China will get 4x the golds in the next Olympics to match the US per capita?

ClippetyClop, Jimizo, You do not have to agree with me—I’m talking about facts, what’s happening in the western world and how ridiculous it is to force DEI on the Olympics.

If you pay attention to my post, you’ll realize that I’m actually defending/supporting/respecting the athletes and the millions of viewers/supporters.

finally it is over, serious it is the worst Olympic i had seen. The best thing is next time we will be in America!! this will be the best part in Olympic ever！

Could be.

I think they’ll do a great job. I get the feeling liberal and ‘woke’ LA may upset the permanently outraged and upset, but that’s unavoidable.

Great job, Paris.

In fact, I saw absolutely nothing of these decadent Olympic games, the most pathetic in history...

So all of your triggered opinions of the games (that you admit you didn't actually see) comes from your algorithm and the nonsense you're absorbing from the online world, I presume. Weird.

It's moot point. The Olympics are nonsense without Russia

I wouldn’t say that.

They are notorious for state-sponsored doping on a massive scale.

Not trustworthy. Not missed.

Big hooray for Japan. Best ever overseas games. Australia win the overall per capita again also their best ever gold tally and best games results. I see they rolled out old Tom to promote LA. good luck with that and just hope the USA cancel culture don,t tag him for they should have relay on a stuff toy mascot. Pretty hard the cancel a soft rainbow coloured Toy. Ha.

Fighto...

An athlete biting a medal?

Heartwarming and groundbreaking stuff that.

So obviously you didn't see it.

Watched and enjoyed the things I wanted to watch.

Didn't watch and ignored the stuff I wasn't interested in.

Did not get triggered and outraged by things I didn't see and don't care about.

Well done to all athletes !

As a person living nearby Paris, I fear the backlash when security agents and cleaners/volunteers will all disappear.

I love the joyful moments and I have had tears rolling down my face sometimes watching many good moments of the games.

I need though to assert that it was not that DEI at all when you check who are the attendees/spectators. Fact.

I wished it was so more really popular but safety first I know.

Fan of Tom Cruise too sorry.

Among whom?

Most of the world

People who watch the same podcasts and follow the same Twitter accounts as you?

Not just that, but most people in the world do on a Television. Now it's on to LA, Oh, I just can't imagine what might be in store for that Olympics. They defintely got their work cut out for them.

Australia win the overall per capita again

Aussie had an exceptional games and kept the Golds flowing, but the Kiwis by far shaded Aus for per capita success. Other nations massively punching above their weight were Grenada, St Lucia and the Netherlands.

I came for Tom Cruise

Please! Get a room!

Yeah, right. You wouldn't say no.

Just watched the Tom Cruise segment of the Olympics on Youtube.

Very cool.

How much of that backlash came from pro-Russian Federation backers and religious extremists

That's an interesting conspiracy theory , sounds original.

How about leaving politics out of it for just a single day?

It was alright. Just another Olympics. Some interesting sports. Some uninteresting sports. Entertaining opening and closing ceremonies, despite the pearl-clutching from right-wing fartwits, mostly in the US. Certainly better than the snooze fest ceremonies at the 2021 (2020) Tokyo games.

The biggest issue I had was the JP coverage, at least as compared to what I was used to from many US broadcasts. The announcers were soooooooooo annoying. Screaming like little children, even with golf. Along with the blatant rooting for one's own country, it comes across as extremely unprofessional.

Fighto....

Here is the medal bite....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5lqTL7_Dv8

Thanks, Mr.Kipling.

OK then - that's cute!

(edited)

*defending/supporting/respecting the athletes and the millions of sports fans—they just wanna watch the games and not be bombarded with nonsense.*

Did not get triggered and outraged by things I didn't see and don't care about.

Every single solitary soul has a right to their opinion on this website and elsewhere on the internet as you do.

Fighto!Today  07:58 am JST

Kurisupisu - 

What was their intention?

Was it to show male genitalia to a worldwide audience?

Because that happened…

> You still "shocked and outraged" after two weeks? Might just be time to move on. 

Well done Paris - it was a very successful games held with French flair. Lots of great moments.

…

I wasn’t shocked at all.

Why are you assuming that?

Neither Macron nor the trans group were repentant enough to the multitude of minors that were viewing the opening ceremony though, right?

Athletes from across the Planet tried their best to take the games to the next and a higher level. They were indeed the superstructure of the mega event in Paris. One needs to salute the athletes and the non athletes for their defining roles in Paris 2024.

In fact, I saw absolutely nothing of these decadent Olympic games, the most pathetic in history...

Lol, if you saw absolutely nothing, how would you know? That's pathetic logic

Interested to see Tom Cruise with his dyed hair. A bit vain but thats Hollywood for you. If he did not dye his hair it would no doubt be full of grey at 62 years old. Starting to look a bit long in the tooth.

Nothing spectacular in being lowered to the stadium floor, The guy/alien in the gold suit looked much more impressive. All a trifle anti climactic and in Hollywood terms pretty B grade stuff. Disappointed in the hand off for LA 28.

Paris absolutely nailed these Olympics, lets hope the Para Olympic games is in a similar class.

Imagine downvoting "Congrats to Paris and France for fantastic Olympics!!!". Must be the people that didn't get an Olympics.

Hopefully downvotes don't affect anyone's PPR results and salary evaluations. Imagine that would suck if it did.

Interested to see Tom Cruise with his dyed hair. A bit vain but thats Hollywood for you. If he did not dye his hair it would no doubt be full of grey at 62 years old. Starting to look a bit long in the tooth.

We all face that same predicament. Time waits for no man, unfortunately.

Every single solitary soul has a right to their opinion on this website and elsewhere on the internet as you do.

Quite right. Even the solitary ones.