“Some Weird Stuff”: Paris Olympics Fans Mock Closing Ceremony as Tom Cruise Steals the Thunder With Prelude for LA2028

Just before the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony concluded, everyone in attendance witnessed the grand handover. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo walked on stage with Tony Estanguet, the President of Paris 2024. Hidalgo waved the Olympic flag before handing it over to LA Mayor Karen Bass, accompanied by Simone Biles.
Grammy award-winning artist H.E.R. performed a passionate rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner as Biles had the honor of holding the flag during the national anthem. However, no one could’ve guessed that Tom Cruise would channel his inner Ethan Hunt, rappelling down from Stade de France’s roof like it was a Mission Impossible film.
Cruise greeted Bass and Biles before taking the Olympic flag, hopping onto a motorbike, and raiding out of the stadium as athletes cheered him. However, it was only the beginning of a grandiose handover. As Cruise rode out, the screen showed the Hollywood icon riding through the streets of Paris, boarding a cargo plane, and skydiving to the iconic Hollywood sign. However, not every fan who watched the LA 2028 trailer felt impressed.
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What’s your reaction? Did Tom Cruise just overshadow the entire Paris Olympics closing ceremony? React! Reactions
It was only after the Jerry Maguire star landed in LA that the first American athlete appeared in the trailer. The 62-year-old handed over the flag to mountain biker Kate Courtney. The Red Hot Chili Peppers sang ‘By the Way’ as Courtney stormed down the hill. Courtney handed the flag to track and field legend Michael Johnson, who finally gave it to skateboarder Jagger Eaton.
Finally, the flag stopped at a concert on a California beach, where artists such as Billie Eilish, RHCP, Snoop Dog, and Dr. Dre performed. “This is the biggest moment in LA28 history to date, as the Olympic flag passes from Paris to LA,” said LA Olympics Chairperson Casey Wasserman. Yet, that’s not how many people felt, as they voiced their opinion on social media.
Unimpressed fans started comparing the two Olympics
“France: ‘This was nice let’s do some art and some weird stuff to close the show and it’ll be nice.’… America: ‘STAR SPANGLED BANNER. TOM CRUISE. GUITARS. MOTORBIKES. RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS!’” one individual posted on X. Although the post may be (intentionally) dramatic, the netizen pointed out how the handover felt like a culture shock.
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The fans also highlighted how everything the LA Olympics teaser showed had some of the most stereotypical ideas the world has about the USA. “Exactly. It’s not terrible / but If this is what the opening ceremony will be like – then it’s cliches and cringe – hope not,” wished one individual. Yet, others argued that the video wasn’t cliched or promoted stereotypes but embraced what makes America stand out.
Larger-than-life Hollywood stars such as Tom Cruise command a global fan following. It was the USA that made fast bikes, rock music, and guitar solos popular across the world. However, this is exactly why many felt the video was boring. “So predictable,” commented one netizen, “So basic!” commented another.
France leaned on its historical heritage. They even used their iconic geographical features like the Seine as a part of the opening ceremony and the Games. The people who found the LA2028 handover predictable or bearing also hoped it would be unique. So they were disappointed to find it had no surprises other than a bombastic Hollywood set piece.
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Meanwhile, some even had issues with the LA2028 organizers’ choice of music. “So glad that the LA Olympics are being held in 2005,” one sarcastically commented. The fan thought that using RHCP’s ‘By the Way’ as the backing track for Tom Curise’s epic journey sounded out of place. Although the famous RHCP track is still beloved, it was released in the mid-2000s. So, the user may have felt it didn’t suit the setting.
While plenty of fans on the internet loved the handover, it was a hit and a miss for others. Yet some didn’t like it at all. What did you think? Let us know in the comments.