The ceremony began with a mysterious golden-clad figure descending from the stadium roof, tasked with resurrecting the Olympic spirit.

Ghostly dancers and gymnasts put on a mesmerizing display, with Swiss musician Alain Roche performing while suspended in the air on a vertically mounted piano.

French singer Yseult delivered a breathtaking rendition of the classic song “My Way,” celebrating the close ties between France and the United States.

Hollywood star Tom Cruise then abseiled into the stadium and made off with the Olympic flag on a motorcycle, marking the symbolic handover to the next host city, Los Angeles.

Throughout the ceremony, the message was clear - Paris wanted these games to be a celebration of unity, respect, and the enduring spirit of the Olympics.

Despite the global challenges of recent years, the French capital succeeded in delivering a record-breaking Olympics that captured the world’s imagination.

“Humanity is beautiful when it comes together,” said the ceremony’s director, Thomas Jolly. “These Games have been a unique opportunity to share, reconcile and repair.”

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As the Olympic flame was extinguished, the city’s groundbreaking Olympic cauldron suspended from a balloon was lowered, becoming the newest iconic landmark in Paris.

The ceremony closed with athletes, volunteers and spectators joining in a rousing performance of “We Are the Champions,” cementing the memories of these unforgettable Paris Olympics.