The Paris Games are wrapping up Sunday afternoon. The closing ceremony will be a celebration of athletic achievement and mark the passing of the torch (literally) to the next host city, Los Angeles.
According to promotions by Olympic organizers, here’s what fans can expect to see from the proverbial handover Sunday:
A star-studded lineup of California-based artists: The closing ceremony will feature performances by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg, who popped up all over Paris throughout the Games. Five-time Grammy Award winner H.E.R. will also give a rendition of the U.S. national anthem.
California Olympians: Two-time Olympic skateboarding medalist Jagger Eaton, mountain biker Kate Courtney, track and field gold medalist Michael Johnson and former tennis champion Venus Williams will appear during the program. They are expected to introduce the rest of the world to a taste of what California and Los Angeles will offer in four years time.
A traditional show of diplomacy: The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, will formally hand the Olympic flag to Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass in a traditional show of international diplomacy and goodwill. It will reportedly be the first time a black female mayor has ever received the banner. “To receive the flag is going to be a tremendous honor, knowing that the first woman mayor of Paris will be handing me the flag,” Bass told reporters Friday, per Reuters.
“Surprise” appearances: In typical Hollywood fashion, there will be some Marvel-esque cameos planned for the massive production. Actor Tom Cruise has been spotted all over Paris, taking in the competition and reportedly filming something throughout the city. Could the Mission Impossible star be part of the handoff? It would be a genius marketing move given the latest installment of the franchise is in post-production and set to release in 2025.
Either way, fans appear to be in for a treat after a truly electrifying 17 days of Olympic competition. 2028 can’t come soon enough.
