Hollywood star Tom Cruise made a dramatic appearance at the Paris 2024 closing ceremony by descending from the roof of the Stade de France on a wire.
The crowd cheered as Cruise, dressed in a leather jacket and gloves, came down while musician H.E.R. played guitar.
The event marked the handover to Los Angeles, which will host the 2028 Olympics. In a pre-recorded video, Cruise traveled from Paris to the U.S., where he visited the Hollywood sign and displayed the Olympic flag. The ceremony in Paris was a goodbye from this year’s host city.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach praised the Paris Games as “amazing” and applauded the athletes for their performances and unity. He admired how they lived together peacefully and inspired people around the world.
During the ceremony, Cruise’s stunt was timed with H.E.R.’s performance of the U.S. national anthem. After taking the Olympic flag from gymnast Simone Biles, Cruise sped away on a motorbike.
The video of Cruise’s journey to Los Angeles featured music by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who then performed live in LA. Other acts included Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg, who performed with Dr. Dre.
Snoop Dogg, a Los Angeles native, was a regular at the Games, which ended with the U.S. winning the most medals after a thrilling women’s basketball final.
Cruise is known for his daring stunts in movies, like climbing Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and hanging off a plane.
The closing ceremony also featured a dramatic segment with dancers creating the Olympic rings and a lively performance by the French band Phoenix. Despite some stage chaos, the ceremony ended on a high note.
Cruise’s participation had been widely expected after he was seen in Paris during the Games, supporting the U.S. team and watching Simone Biles.
“It’s awesome,” Cruise said. “Great stories, great athletes. It’s incredible what they do.”
The ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, also organized the impressive opening ceremony, which featured a boat parade on the River Seine and a performance by Céline Dion.
