news

2024 Olympic Games: 10 of the best images from the closing ceremony and final day of the Paris Olympics

VaselineAugust 12, 2024

0 2 minutes read

2024 Olympic Games: 10 of the best images from the closing ceremony and final day of the Paris Olympics

Medal table | Olympic news

The Olympic Games officially ended on Sunday with the closing ceremony at the Stade de France and a handover ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. The moment gave Paris one last chance to shine on the Olympic stage, which it did as only Paris can.

But before the closing ceremony really got underway, there was still the winning and awarding of the last medals of the 2024 Games. On the last day of the Olympic Games, a number of events were scheduled that preceded the ceremony.

Here are some of the best photos from the final day of the Paris Olympics.

Sifan Hassan wins 6th Olympic medal

First came the women’s marathon, which crowned Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan the Olympic champion. Hassan’s gold was her third medal at the Games. She also won bronze in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters on the track. Hassan was a two-time gold medalist in Tokyo in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. She also won bronze in the 1,500 meters in 2021.

TOPSHOT - Dutch gold medalist Sifan Hassan celebrates crossing the finish line first in the women's marathon, the track and field event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Les Invalides in Paris on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) — Sifan Hassan celebrates her victory in the women’s marathon after crossing the finish line first. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC via Getty Images)

US wins 8th straight gold medal in women’s basketball

It wasn’t easy, but the U.S. women won their eighth straight Olympic gold medal in basketball with a 67-66 victory over host France. The U.S. trailed by 10 points in the third quarter but came back later to secure their 61st consecutive Olympic victory, a streak that dates back to the bronze medal game at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Sabrina Ionescu celebrates the US's victory over France for the gold medal. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images) — Sabrina Ionescu celebrates the US victory over France and the gold medal. (Sarah Stier via Getty Images)

A'Ja Wilson celebrates the US victory over France. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) — A’Ja Wilson celebrates the US victory over France. (Gregory Shamus via Getty Images)

Closing ceremony is central

When the competition ended, all eyes of the Olympic Games turned to the Stade de France, where athletes opened the festive closing ceremony in the Parade of Nations.

TOPSHOT - Athletes take part in the athletes' parade during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP) (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images) — Athletes take part in the parade of nations during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. (BERTRAND GUAY via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Fireworks light up the sky during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP) (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images) — During the closing ceremony, the sky is lit up by fireworks. (MAURO PIMENTEL via Getty Images)

An artistic performance showed the most spectacular images of the closing ceremony, from a “Golden Voyager” to a grand piano with pianist hanging vertically in the air.

TOPSHOT - A performer takes part in the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images) — The “Golden Voyager” makes its entrance during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. (WANG ZHAO via Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 11: Swiss pianist Alain Roche performs Hymn To Apollo during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on August 11, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) — Swiss pianist Alain Roche plays Hymn To Apollo during the closing ceremony while hanging vertically from cables in the air. (Jamie Squire via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - An overview shows the Olympic rings during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP) (Photo by JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images) — During a closing ceremony, the five Olympic rings were assembled by artists. (JULIE SEBADELHA via Getty Images)

Paris hands it over to Los Angeles

To close the ceremony, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took to the stage, along with outgoing International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, to present the titles for the 2028 Games.