The Paris Olympics 2024 concluded with a grand closing ceremony at the Stade de France in Paris, beginning at 9pm local time (19:00 GMT).
The event featured performances from global artists such as Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The Games, which kicked off with an unprecedented opening ceremony on July 26 along the Seine River, marked the first time the event wasn’t held inside the host city’s Olympic Stadium.
Lady Gaga headlined the opening ceremony, which culminated in the cauldron being lit in a hot-air balloon near the Louvre Museum.
In the final medal count, Team USA and China both secured 40 gold medals, with the U.S. leading in overall medal count at 126 compared to China’s 91. Japan finished third with 45 total medals.
Final Medal Count:
– Team USA: 40 Gold, 44 Silver, 42 Bronze – Total 126
– China: 40 Gold, 27 Silver, 24 Bronze – Total 91
– Japan: 20 Gold, 12 Silver, 13 Bronze – Total 45
Key Points to Note:
– The United States and China both achieved 40 gold medals each. However, the U.S. surpassed China with a total of 126 medals compared to China’s 91.
– U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles will have to return her bronze medal from the floor final, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport invalidated her appeal that had moved her from fifth to third place.
– The U.S. women’s basketball team narrowly defeated France 67-66 to secure their eighth consecutive gold medal.
– In the women’s marathon, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands clinched gold, overtaking Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in the final moments. Kenya’s Helen Obiri earned the bronze medal.
As the Olympics draw to a close, attention will soon turn to the Paralympics, which will also be hosted in Paris. The Paralympics are set to begin on August 28 and will run for 11 days.
