Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, 62, is set to make a spectacular entrance at the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris on August 11. The event will mark a memorable transition from the Paris Games to the upcoming Los Angeles Games. As Mayor Anne Hidalgo hands over the Olympic flag to LA Mayor Karen Bass, Cruise will execute an ambitious stunt involving rappelling from the roof of the Stade de France. The dramatic descent will see him gracefully land on the field while holding the flag, creating a striking visual for the ceremony. There is speculation that a stunt double might be used for certain aspects of this high-risk maneuver.
The excitement will not end there. The broadcast is expected to switch to a pre-recorded segment, where Cruise will be seen making a dramatic journey from Paris to Los Angeles. This segment will feature Cruise skydiving from an aircraft to the iconic Hollywood sign, where he will then pass the flag to a selection of athletes. These athletes, including cyclists, skateboarders, and volleyball players, will showcase the flag around Los Angeles, symbolizing the transition of the Olympic torch from Paris to LA for the 2028 Games.
The elaborate filming for this sequence reportedly took place earlier in March. Images of Cruise descending the Hollywood sign surfaced online, although their Olympic connection was not initially clear. According to TMZ, Tom Cruise was instrumental in conceptualizing this stunt, approaching the International Olympic Committee with the innovative idea of performing a series of high-impact stunts to create a seamless and dramatic link between the Paris and LA Games.
While the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee has not disclosed extensive details about the closing ceremony, Paris 2024’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, has hinted at an ambitious vision. He plans to transform the Stade de France into a grand concert hall featuring more than 100 performers. Jolly describes the ceremony as "a very visual, very choreographic, very acrobatic show with an operatic dimension to give a great visual fresco and say goodbye to athletes from all over the world." His aim is to create a memorable celebration that honors the past and embraces the future of the Olympic movement.
Cruise, who previously carried the Olympic torch in Los Angeles in 2004, has been involved in the Paris Games, attending various events including women’s gymnastics and swimming. The anticipation surrounding his performance has been palpable, adding an element of excitement and spectacle to the closing ceremony. Despite the buzz, representatives for Cruise have yet to comment on the details of his participation. This high-profile stunt promises to be a dramatic and unforgettable moment in the closing ceremony, blending Hollywood flair with Olympic tradition.
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