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Olympics 2024: ‘Wow, the French are amazing!’ – Americans stunned by the closing ceremony and the Games

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By: Mike

Olympics 2024
© Red94 – Olympics 2024: 'Wow, the French are amazing!' – Americans stunned by the closing ceremony and the Games

As the curtain fell on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the world was left in awe, particularly across the Atlantic, where Americans couldn’t help but marvel at the spectacle that France had delivered. The grand closing ceremony, orchestrated by Thomas Jolly, and the breathtaking two-week display of athletic excellence in iconic French settings left an indelible mark, raising the bar for future Olympic hosts, including Los Angeles in 2028.

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A Cosmic Finale: France’s Dazzling Display

The closing ceremony was nothing short of a cosmic journey, featuring an interstellar traveler portrayed by Arthur Cadre embarking on a quest to reboot the Olympic spirit. The Swiss tightrope walker Alain Roche added to the surreal atmosphere by performing “Apollo’s Hymn” on a vertical piano, suspended in the air. This mesmerizing spectacle left NBC commentators in awe, with presenter Terry Gannon exclaiming, “My God, the French are cool,” while former figure skater Tara Lipinski described the scene as “unreal.”

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Not everyone was enchanted by the space-themed extravaganza, though. Across the Channel, British tabloids like The Sun cheekily suggested that viewers might have thought twice about their dinner choices before watching, while the Daily Mail humorously took jabs at the “bee man” and “toilet paper mummies” featured in the performance. Meanwhile, in France, some fans drew parallels between the show’s golden armor and the 1980s cartoon Ulysses 31 or the Japanese anime Saint Seiya.

Paris 2024: A Reset for the Olympic Games

While some were expecting a Daft Punk reunion, CNN praised Phoenix’s performance, surrounded by athletes in what felt like an intimate rock concert. The Washington Post took an even broader view, declaring the Paris Games a resounding success. “The Olympics needed a reset. Thank you, Paris, for delivering it,” the newspaper stated, pointing out how no other city could have matched the breathtaking venues like the volleyball court in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, fencing in the stunning Grand Palais, or equestrian events in the gardens of the 17th-century Château de Versailles. Paris, they noted, “did it all, and more.”

Los Angeles 2028: A Beach Party with Big Shoes to Fill

The ceremony wrapped up with a high-octane stunt by Tom Cruise, who jumped from the roof of the Stade de France, segueing into a pre-recorded action sequence featuring the delivery of the Olympic flag to Los Angeles. The sequence included a dramatic parachute jump over the Hollywood sign, digitally adorned with the Olympic rings.

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The Los Angeles segment then transitioned to a beach party vibe, headlined by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, and local icons Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. While some viewers believed the concert was live from Venice Beach, it was actually filmed in secret at Long Beach, 40 kilometers south of L.A., where swimming and triathlon events will take place in 2028.

Despite the star power, the New York Times was less than impressed, with journalist Jon Pareles remarking that after the grand scale and ambition of Paris’s spectacle, the transition felt more like a fizzle than a bang. His colleague, Sarah Lyall, echoed this sentiment, lamenting the shift from the grandeur of Versailles and the Eiffel Tower to what she described as “a beach shack painted with the letters LA28.” Los Angeles now has four years to rise to the challenge and meet the high expectations set by Paris.

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