Sawt Falasteen - Seine-sational! Paris bids triumphant 'au revoir' to Olympics

A dazzling closing ceremony that culminated with Hollywood star Tom Cruise abseiling off the roof of the Stade de France in front of 71,500 spectators was the crowning glory of what has been broadly acclaimed as one of the greatest Olympics ever held.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said the Paris Games had been "sport at its best."

"These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish," Bach said. "Or dare I say: Seine-sational Games," the IOC chief quipped in a pun about the river flowing through Paris which was the scene of the opening ceremony.

"Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you," Bach added.

Around 9,000 athletes flooded into the stadium to be entertained by 270 performers and artists in a ceremony billed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport.

"We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magic," Paris 2024 organising chief Tony Estanguet told athletes. "You made us happy; you made us feel alive -- the world needed this moment so much."

France's swimming hero Leon Marchand -- winner of four gold medals at these Games -- kicked off the festivities, collecting the Olympic flame from the cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens to begin its journey to the Stade de France.

French rugby hero Antoine Dupont -- who led the host nation to a rugby sevens gold medal in one of the early highlights of the Games -- carried a tricolore flag into the stadium as partying athletes swarmed the field.

The closing spectacle marked the beginning of the four-year countdown to the Los Angeles Olympics, and American gymnastics icon Simone Biles joined Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass as the Olympic flag was formally handed to the Californian city.

A preview of what the world can expect when the Olympics heads to Tinseltown in 2028 then saw "Mission Impossible" star Cruise abseil into the stadium before collecting the Olympic flag and heading off on a motorbike to the delight of athletes and fans.

A pre-filmed segment showed Cruise weaving through Parisian streets before boarding a plane and skydiving into Los Angeles and emblazoning LA's iconic Hollywood sign with the Olympic rings.

Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers and singer Billie Eilish then performed a mini-concert on a beach.

The ceremony followed 17 days of frequently breathtaking sporting action set against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Chateau de Versailles.

In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony on the River Seine, Sunday's festivities began as a golden sunset bathed the French capital.

The last day of sporting action, meanwhile, saw the United States pip China for top spot in the battle for medals after the US women's basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games.

The win -- the eighth consecutive Olympic women's basketball title won by the USA -- ensured the Americans finished level with China on 40 golds each.

The USA however finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91.

- Marathon magic -

Sunday began with a gripping women's marathon victory by the Netherlands' long-distance running star Sifan Hassan.

Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble in Paris, competing in the 5,000m, the 10,000m and the marathon.

But in a jaw-dropping sprint finish, Hassan overhauled Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2hr 22min 55sec.

She fell to the ground on the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex in the heart of Paris before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate an extraordinary achievement.

Hassan was presented with her gold medal in Sunday's closing ceremony.

Wrestling, weightlifting, water polo, volleyball, modern pentathlon, handball, and track cycling were the other sports to crown Olympic champions on the last day.

C.Hamad--SF-PST