The closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics began with French swimmer and four-time gold medalist Leon Marchon extinguishing the cauldron and carrying the flame in a lantern to the Stade de France.
Shortly thereafter, the flag bearers of the 205 Olympic delegation, led by French rugby star Antoine Dupont, entered the stadium. Thousands more athletes entered the stadium to rapturous applause and music.
Apart from musical performances by notable Hollywood stars, the two-and-a-half-hour show features theater sequences.
French President Emmanuel Macron and IOC President Thomas Bach were spotted with his wife, among other dignitaries.
The star-studded closing ceremony kicked off at the Stade de France in front of around 71,500 spectators. This year’s Olympic Games are being regarded as one of the greatest editions ever.
The event marked the beginning of a four-year countdown to the next Olympics in Los Angeles, with a final segment by Hollywood star Tom Cruise.