Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise made a dramatic appearance at the Paris 2024 closing ceremony on Sunday night, abseiling off the roof of the Stade de France.
Spectators shrieked in delight as the Mission: Impossible star, dressed in a leather jacket and gloves, lowered himself into the stadium while his compatriot H.E.R. performed on guitar.
To mark the handover to Los Angeles, the host of the 2028 Olympics, Cruise appeared in a pre-recorded film traveling through Paris and then onto the U.S.
He journeyed to the legendary Hollywood sign, where he unfurled the Olympic colors. The ceremony in Paris marked a formal “au revoir” from this year’s host city.
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, described the Paris Games as “sensational.”
In his closing speech, he praised the athletes for their “simply amazing” performances, saying they demonstrated “what greatness we humans are capable of.”
He continued: “During all this time, you lived peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village. You embraced each other. You respected each other, even if your countries are divided by war and conflict. You created a culture of peace.
“This inspired all of us and billions of people around the globe. Thank you for making us dream. Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone.”
During the closing ceremony, Cruise’s performance coincided with musician H.E.R. jamming on an electric guitar after delivering a rock-infused rendition of the US national anthem.
Cruise took the Olympic flag from American gymnast Simone Biles, thrilling the audience as he zipped away on a motorbike.
A pre-recorded clip showed his journey to LA, set to the music of California natives Red Hot Chili Peppers. The funk-rock band then performed their classic track “Can’t Stop” live on a palm-fringed beach in Los Angeles. Other performers included Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg, who took the stage with Dr. Dre.
Snoop, an LA native, was a regular presence at the Games, which concluded with the US topping the medals table after a dramatic win in the women’s basketball final on Sunday.
Cruise, famous for his role in “Top Gun,” is known for performing his own stunts. In the past decade, these have included scaling Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and hanging from the side of a plane during takeoff for the “Mission: Impossible” series.
Artistic director Thomas Jolly enhanced Cruise’s feat with a cinematic segment. The audience watched as dancers rolled five giant rings across the stage, forming the Olympic logo, before French band Phoenix delivered an energetic performance surrounded by athletes.
Cruise’s role was Paris’s worst-kept secret, with rumors circulating in the press days before he was photographed in the stadium on Sunday evening. The 62-year-old was seen multiple times during the Games, cheering on the US team in the swimming relay and watching Simone Biles in action.
“It’s awesome,” he told Reuters news agency at the time. “Great stories, great athletes. It’s incredible what they do.”
Artistic director Jolly was also responsible for the Olympics’ ambitious curtain-raiser last month. This featured a parade of boats along the River Seine and a comeback performance from singer Céline Dion.