Olympics closing ceremony LIVE: Tom Cruise, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg star in Paris 2024 finale
Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Red Hot Chili Peppers made appearances in the Paris 2024 finale and the road to Los Angeles 2028 begins
The Olympics concluded on a star-studded night at the Stade de France as Paris 2024 delivered a memorable closing ceremony.
But the spirit of the Games returned over the last two weeks and Paris provided an evening that included Tom Cruise, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Red Hot Chili Peppers as the baton was passed onto Los Angeles 2028.
Team USA topped the medal table, while France enjoyed its best return in terms of medals in 124 years, behind Leon Marchand in the pool.
As for Team GB, there were more medals on the final day to conclude a successful Games, securing one more medal overall but eight fewer gold medals than at Tokyo 2020.
Relive all the action from Sunday night’s closing ceremony below:
Olympic medal table: USA beat China to top spot at Paris 2024
And after all of that, it’s over. 1044 medals across 329 events in 32 sports and the United States top the table again:
Olympic medal table: USA battle China for top spot at Paris 2024
USA and China are fighting for supremacy in the count of gold, silver and bronze medals won at the Olympic Games
Olympics 2024: United States win eighth straight women’s basketball gold medal
History for the United States - no team had ever won eight consecutive Olympic golds. They remain unbeaten at the Games since Barcelona 1992, but how they had to fight for this as France threatened a fairytale in the final event of Paris 2024.
But the USA have gold again, and will top the medal table ahead of China.
Olympics 2024: United States 67-66 France
Or is it! Gabby Williams produces a remarkable shot to narrow the gap to a point.
Kahleah Copper is the next American fouled. She makes the first..and the second. France need a miracle shot - and in it goes to beat the buzzer, but it will only be a two from Gabby Williams. Her foot was on the line as she released what she thought was an equalising three, and the streak survives by a single point!
Olympics 2024: United States 65-61 France
Can France manufacture something? The in-bound is in but they have to work quickly. Four seconds elapse and Kahleah Copper concedes a soft foul. Marine Johannes is on the money with both efforts.
France need a steal, though. They don’t get it, Copper popping the ball back to Kelsey Plum, 4/4 from the free throw line today. If she makes both, it would surely seal it...
And in they go! That might be the dagger.
Olympics 2024: United States 58-57 France
Jackie Young is fouled out. She blocks Gabby Williams trying desperately to prevent the power forward collecting the inbound.
To the free throw line goes Williams. The first shot...good. The second...it’s there. Nerveless stuff. France back within a point.
Olympics 2024: United States 49-47 France
A 17th turnover from the United States leads to a corner three from Valeriane Ayayi, who can’t quite find it, clipping the rim. A’ja Wilson takes advantage, the two-time WNBA MVP up to 16 points and 12 boards. She’s almost single-handedly hauling her side towards the gold.
Olympics 2024: United States 45-43 France
Marine Johannes from downtown! Finally one sticks for the shooting guard, her sixth attempt of the day from distance at last landing just when France needed something.
To the fourth quarter we go with just two points in it.
Olympics 2024: Closing Ceremony
“All the travel books will tell you to avoid Paris in August - it’s too crowded, too hot and everything is shut.
“Well, perhaps, these last two weeks have taught us to forget all those stereotypes about the French, with their smiling waiters, reliable public transport and cooling rain.
“And as for their great summer tradition of strikes and riots, unfortunately that moved a little closer to home.
“Whisper it quietly but Paris saw London 2012 and raised it.”
Final reflections of Paris 2024, by James Toney.
Team GB swap medals for moments as Paris leaves new Olympics blueprint
Paris 2024 delivered despite encountering problems, writes James Toney, with the handover to Los Angeles 2028 complete
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