Tom Cruise pulls off a “epic stunt” during the Olympics’ finale.

One of the biggest sporting events in the world has always been nicely concluded with the Olympic closing ceremonies. But there was also something extra remarkable on exhibit at this year’s formalities: Tom Cruise.

The renowned actor and stuntman was reportedly going to pull off a “epic stunt” as part of the closing festivities earlier this week.

It was reported that during the closing ceremonies, Cruise would rappel into the Stade de France in Paris. A pre-recorded film of Cruise skydiving onto the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles would play after that. After all this time, the report is correct.

Given that Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics and that Cruise, 62, is known for pushing stunts to new heights, it was expected that someone from the city would be present to raise the Olympic flag in accordance with tradition. Here’s a live account of the stunt.

After safely landing, the 62-year-old rappelled down from the roof of the Stade de France and greeted the Olympians.

At the closing ceremony, we saw Simone Biles make an unexpected appearance and assist in the handing over of the Olympic flag from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Five things to remember from an incredibly amazing Olympic closing ceremony

A thrilling two and a half weeks of the Summer Olympics concluded on Sunday with a celebration of the athletes, the people who made the Games possible, and a sneak peek at what’s in store for the next four years in the Stade de France.

The following five lessons can be learned from the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony:

Huge, well-deserved applause is given to the volunteers.

Throughout the Olympic Games in Paris, they were everywhere, assisting visitors from all over the world with getting around the city, finding the venues, and generally getting their affairs in order. The closing ceremony began with a heartfelt thank you to the Paris 2024 volunteers, who truly deserved it.

They have spent the last two weeks or more competing, showing up at all times in their green shirts and slacks. The always boisterous French audience gave them a tremendous cheer as they filed into the Stade de France beside the flagbearers.

The main attraction of the Olympic Games is undoubtedly the sports, but without the legions of volunteers that are dispersed across the host city to assist spectators from all over the world with navigation, the games would not be possible.

Being able to get gratitude from tens of thousands of individuals they assisted throughout their stay in Paris was an amazing experience for the volunteers and a lovely gift from the organizers of the Games.

A celebration is ignited by karaoke while the sportsmen are “Freed From Desire.”

The march of nations at the closing ceremony was joyful from the outset. After years of preparation, athletes were ready to unwind and celebrate. During the last two weeks, they were eager to interact with their teammates and thrill the spectators.

When the majority of the athletes had arrived at the stadium, 80,000 people joined in for a brief karaoke session.

A few French songs were played first, and then the moment arrived—as it had at many venues in recent weeks—when Gala Rizzatto’s “Freed From Desire” was played over the speakers.

It was a hit song in every venue it was played in, and it might as well have been the unofficial anthem of these Games. It was finally the athletes’ turn to start singing and dancing.

With the competition being done and a chance for athletes and spectators to unite in celebration of an incredibly amazing Olympics, thousands of competitors joined the cheering throng in the stands, dancing and jumping along with them.

A final magnificent light display at an Olympics full of them

Light displays were a defining feature of these Olympics, from the magnificent display during the opening ceremony atop the Eiffel Tower to the pre-competition displays. The organizers had one last surprise planned for the closing ceremony.

The sun was completely setting as the lights at the Stade de France went out and tens of thousands of wristbands lighted up all at once, while dancers danced on the stage below.

Subsequently, the wristbands that were synchronized with Bluetooth not only began to flash and blink simultaneously, but also unintentionally involved specific parts of the audience in the performance as their wristbands displayed scenes of sports competition that stretched throughout the entire stadium.

After an incredibly amazing show, the Olympic rings were lifted above the stadium’s stage, and the fans’ wristbands on all four sides of the arena were lit up in their recognizable design. It was really amazing to witness such a large-scale synchronized performance.

The athletes take over the stage while Phoenix and other French performers rock.

It was time for the evening’s musical performance when the light show and dancers ended. The competitors were freed from their designated zones surrounding the platform and urged to approach it closely. A good many of them even went a bit beyond.

Athletes started to clamber onto the continent-shaped stage, run around, and take in the applause from the crowd. The show’s producers weren’t exactly thrilled with the athletes’ moment of ecstasy; many announcements were played over the stadium’s loudspeakers, politely requesting that the athletes leave the stage.

After hearing that message, a few of them obeyed. After hearing that declaration, the majority of them felt it would be more enjoyable to dance around the French indie rock group Phoenix as they began their performance.

It was a breathtaking sight. Numerous athletes gathered around a rock band as though they were headlining a little gig at a neighborhood music establishment, waving their national flags and dancing and bouncing. Athletes in other places simply walked to different locations and danced and engaged with the audience after leaving the stage.