The closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics starts at 22:00 and takes place at the Stade de France. If the opening ceremony, held on the Seine, gave rise to many discussions, following the controversial moments, now a less loud event is expected. But you never know with the French, so we invite you to watch the closing of the 2024 Olympic Games together.
UPDATE at 0.41 am – The surprise promised by the organizers has arrived. The actor Tom Cruise descended like in the films of the Mission Impossible series from the roof of the Stade de France, took the Olympic flag and left with it on a motorcycle, to the cheers of the spectators and the athletes. Then the broadcast moved to Los Angeles, where rockers Red Hot Chilli Peppers performed live on a sunny beach. The Olympic Games have already been “Americanized”, a sign that in 4 years we will see an exceptional sports show.
Tom Cruise descended among the athletes, at the Stade de France. Photo Getty images
UPDATE at 0.35 am – At the end of the speeches, which far exceeded the end time announced by the organizers, the baton was handed over by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to the mayor of the city of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, the latter coming accompanied by the star of female gymnastics, Simone Biles. The Americans will host the next edition of the Olympic Games in 2028. For the athletes, there is a few weeks of break, then preparations for a new Olympic cycle will begin. Let’s be healthy!
UPDATE at 23.50 – A small incident occurs when the athletes take the stage, while images from the competitions are playing on the screens. As the time was not in the schedule, they were asked to come down.
UPDATE at 23.15 – The show begins, directed by Tomas Jolly, the same one who also organized the opening ceremony, criticized by part of the audience.
UPDATE at 23.10. – There is a moment dedicated to volunteers, which reflects the diversity of the Olympic Games. Their team includes as many women as men.
UPDATE at 23.00 – The traditional marathon medal awarding ceremony takes place, where the naturalized Romanian Delvine Melingor obtained a deserved 7th place this morning.
UPDATE at 22.55 – Athletes and spectators dance to the song We are the Champions by Queen.
UPDATE at 22.45 – The Romanian delegation entered the Stade de France. Only one medalist is present – Mihaela Cambei. The rest of the winners have already gone home.
The Romanian delegation at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. Photo EPA EFE
UPDATE 22.22 – The flag parade takes place. The bearers ascend an enormous stage in the shape of the continents of the globe. In some cases, for countries that no longer have representatives in Paris, the flags are carried by volunteers.
UPDATE at 22.15 – The anthem of France is sung by a symphony orchestra.
UPDATE at 22.08 – The last medal at the 2024 Olympic Games was won by the USA basketball team over France. With this success, the Americans climbed to 1st place in the medal standings, surpassing the great rival China. Sabrina Ionescu, the player of Romanian origin put her shoulder to the victory of the USA national team with two points and three rebounds in the 10 minutes she played.
UPDATE 22.08 – Approximately 2,000 police officers are participating in the operation. They patrol and will control, including physically, all those who will enter the security perimeter around and inside the stadium. The measures are applied in the stadium, around it and on the access roads in the city, including the means of transport. The authorities claim that there is no imminent threat regarding the event and that the draconian measures are preventive.
The Romanian flag will be carried by Mihaela Cambei, who won the silver medal in weightlifting, category 49 kilograms. The event will be broadcast in Romania on TVR 1 and Eurosport 1. In the presence of President Emmanuel Macron and the 80,000 spectators, there will be several artistic moments, surprises and light games and fireworks, as well as the parade of the 205 delegates who participated at the Olympics.
Last preparations before the start of the closing ceremony. Photo Raed Krisan/ GSP.ro
Romania ends the Olympic Games in 23rd position in the nation ranking, much better than in the previous two editions, where we were in 46th place (Tokyo 2020) and 47th (Rio 2016)
Romania at the last 5 editions of the Olympics
Host Place Gold Silver Bronze Total
Beijing 2008 17 4 1 4 9
London 2012 27 2 4 1 7
Rio 2016 47 1 1 2 4
Tokyo 2020 46 1 3 0 4
Paris 2024 23 3 4 2 9
Romanian medals at the 2024 Olympics
GOLD – David Popovici (swimming, 200 meters freestyle)
GOLD – Andrei Cornea and Marian Enache (rowing, men’s double sculls)
GOLD – Maria Magdalena Rusu, Roxana Anghel, Ancuţa Bodnar, Maria Lehaci, Adriana Adam, Amalia Bereş, Ioana Vrînceanu, Simona Radiş, Victoria Ştefania Petreanu (rowing, female, 8+1)
SILVER – Simona Radiș and Ancuța Bodnar (rowing, women’s double sculls)
SILVER – Ioana Vrînceanu and Roxana Anghel (rowing, women’s double sculls)
SILVER – Gianina van Groningen and Ionela Cozmiuc (rowing, women’s double sculls – light category)
SILVER – Mihaela Cambei (weightlifting, category 49 kg)
BRONZE – David Popovici (swimming, 100 meters freestyle)
BRONZE – Ana Maria Bărbosu (gymnastics, floor, according to TAS decision)
