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AFTER 16 days of the best athletes in the world competing for ultimate glory, Sunday marked the final day of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

And as the world said "au revoir" to France, Paris had one last spectacle to offer with its closing ceremony, which came with huge stars like Tom Cruise and stunning performances on stage.

The Golden Voyager descended into the stadium for the Olympics closing ceremony
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The Golden Voyager descended into the stadium for the Olympics closing ceremonyCredit: Getty
The Olympic flame was prepared for the handover to the 2028 LA Games
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The Olympic flame was prepared for the handover to the 2028 LA Games
Tom Cruise made a special appearance to take the Olympic flag
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Tom Cruise made a special appearance to take the Olympic flagCredit: AFP
The Mission Impossible star jumped off the roof before landing in the stadium
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The Mission Impossible star jumped off the roof before landing in the stadiumCredit: Reuters

Hollywood star Tom Cruise was pictured at the top of the stadium before performing a stunt.

The ceremony to hand over the Olympic flag to Los Angeles, USA, for the 2028 Games then got underway.

After the flag was handed over the cameras then panned to Cruise, who jumped off the roof and down into the stadium floor following the US national anthem.

Cruise went through a crowd of excited athletes and retrieved the flag before planting it on his motorcycle and driving off with it.

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A video then played showing the Mission Impossible actor driving the flag away from the stadium before he was seen jumping out of an aeroplane and handing the flag to a cyclist by the Hollywood sign.

The video featured BBC pundit and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson, who won gold in Atalanta - the last time the summer Olympics were hosted in the USA.

After changing hands, the flag arrived at a beach front where Red Hot Chili Peppers then performed on stage.

Following their performance in the scenic setting, Billie Eilish followed up with a performance of her own.

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Snoop Dogg, who was part of the Paris Games from the start, then strolled onto Long Beach in a white outfit for his own performance.

The rapper was then joined by fellow artist Dr. Dre as the duo rounded out the performances at the closing ceremony as Snoop waved the flag.

Team GB's gold medal haul from the 2024 Olympics in Paris gold 14

The opening ceremony saw athletes showed off along the river Seine before Celine Dion performed a moving score at the Eiffel Tower.

However, the closing ceremony took a more traditional approach by staying in the Stade de France, which played host to rugby sevens and athletics.

For the glamorous ceremony that lasted from 8pm to past 11pm, the stadium was turned into a concert hall as athletes filled on to the huge 2,800 square metre stage.

Kicking off the closing ceremony, French singer-songwriter and musician Zaho de Sagazan appeared in a stunning black dress to perform a song.

The Stade de France was transformed for the Paris Olympics closing ceremony
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The Stade de France was transformed for the Paris Olympics closing ceremonyCredit: Getty
The extinguished Olympic cauldron could be seen next to the Henri Vidal sculpture ‘Cain coming from having killed his brother Abel’ at the Jardin des Tuileries
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The extinguished Olympic cauldron could be seen next to the Henri Vidal sculpture ‘Cain coming from having killed his brother Abel’ at the Jardin des TuileriesCredit: EPA
Snoop Dogg performed at Long Beach
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Snoop Dogg performed at Long BeachCredit: Getty
2028 host Los Angeles gave the world a window into the next Olympics
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2028 host Los Angeles gave the world a window into the next OlympicsCredit: Getty

The games' most decorated athlete, Leon Marchand, then took the Olympic flame from the cauldron shortly after.

Next up was an beautifully-performed orchestral number in the stadium, before the team flagbearers emerged soon after.

Team GB were represented by Alex Yee and Bryony Page, who won gold in the men's triathlon and in the women's trampoline respectively.

They entered the stage wearing blue hawaiian shirts and lighter blue shorts.

As the national teams bunched together after parading around the stadium, the music went from orchestral to a party atmosphere.

This included songs such as GALA's Freed from Desire and Queen hit We Are the Champions.

Later on the stadium lights went off, with the centre of the arena only being lit up with flashing lights while an ominous drumbeat played during the light show.

A person in a striking gold outfit - known as the Golden Voyager - was then slowly spotted falling down into the stadium.

Next a model statue of The Winged Victory of Samothrace from the Louvre emerged up into the stadium.

Scores of extras wearing white and grey then emerged to lift a prop up high next to the Voyager.

These circular props turned out to be the Olympic rings, which were then collected together and lifted high into the sky.

After the performance, athletes crammed towards the centre of the stadium, where they were treated to a song by French indie rock band Phoenix.

A host of others followed, one of which was French duo Air, who performed Playground Love.

The penultimate act was for Leon Marchand to enter the stadium and finally extinguish the flame and once and for all call an end to the Paris summer Olympics before singer Yseult rounded out the ceremony with a classy rendition of My Way.

Team GB in particular can celebrate a historic games in the City of Love, with 65 medals across 22 disciplines - one better than their Tokyo haul - including 14 gold medals.

The overall winner of the Paris Games was Team USA, who pipped China to top spot with both getting 40 golds, though USA won 44 silvers to China's 27.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

SunSport looked at 24 of the best pictures from the Paris Games.

However, the French summer of sport is not over just yet, as the Paralympics come to town on August 28 through to September 8.

Spectators packed out the stadium for the ceremony
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Spectators packed out the stadium for the ceremonyCredit: AFP
The most decorated Olympian from the games, Leon Marchand, appeared next to the Olympic flame
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The most decorated Olympian from the games, Leon Marchand, appeared next to the Olympic flame
The stunning backdrop marked a stunning Olympics for Marchand
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The stunning backdrop marked a stunning Olympics for MarchandCredit: Reuters
The flagbearers emerged at the beginning of the ceremony
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The flagbearers emerged at the beginning of the ceremonyCredit: Getty
Team GB flagbearers Alex Yee and Bryony Page entered the stage waving the flag
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Team GB flagbearers Alex Yee and Bryony Page entered the stage waving the flagCredit: PA
The opening ceremony caught the attention of the world
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The opening ceremony caught the attention of the worldCredit: Reuters
And the closing ceremony hoped to do the same
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And the closing ceremony hoped to do the sameCredit: Reuters
Team GB arrived wearing blue hawaiian shirts
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Team GB arrived wearing blue hawaiian shirtsCredit: PA
The stadium lights went off for the show
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The stadium lights went off for the showCredit: AP
The Golden Voyager descended into the Stadium as a light show took place
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The Golden Voyager descended into the Stadium as a light show took placeCredit: Getty
The Golden Voyager was joined on the stage by other performers
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The Golden Voyager was joined on the stage by other performersCredit: Getty
The Winged Victory of Samothrace emerged from under the stadium during the Games
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The Winged Victory of Samothrace emerged from under the stadium during the GamesCredit: Getty
The scores of performers were dressed in white and grey
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The scores of performers were dressed in white and greyCredit: AP
They lifted circular props up
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They lifted circular props upCredit: Reuters
The circular props turned out to be the Olympic rings
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The circular props turned out to be the Olympic ringsCredit: Rex
They were then lifted high into the air
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They were then lifted high into the airCredit: Reuters
Pianist Alain Roche played a striking song during the ceremony
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Pianist Alain Roche played a striking song during the ceremonyCredit: PA
Pyrotechnics came to fore from the top of the stadium
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Pyrotechnics came to fore from the top of the stadiumCredit: PA
At one point, athletes rushed to the centre of the stage
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At one point, athletes rushed to the centre of the stageCredit: Reuters
French indie rock band Phoenix performed at the ceremony
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French indie rock band Phoenix performed at the ceremonyCredit: Reuters
Tom Cruise was seen standing at the top of the stadium before his stunt
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Tom Cruise was seen standing at the top of the stadium before his stuntCredit: Rex
Cruise completed his 'mission to bring the flag to Los Angeles'
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Cruise completed his 'mission to bring the flag to Los Angeles'Credit: Rex
The Mission Impossible star drove off with the flag on a motorbike
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The Mission Impossible star drove off with the flag on a motorbikeCredit: Getty
Leon Marchand entered the stadium with the Olympic flame
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Leon Marchand entered the stadium with the Olympic flameCredit: AP
Singer Yseult performed My Way to round off the Games
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Singer Yseult performed My Way to round off the GamesCredit: Reuters
French singer-songwriter and musician Zaho de Sagazan appeared in a black dress to kick off the closing ceremony
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French singer-songwriter and musician Zaho de Sagazan appeared in a black dress to kick off the closing ceremonyCredit: AFP
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