‘Embarrassment’ or ‘Best Part’: Tom Cruise Flies to Carry Olympic Flag at Closing Ceremony, Sparking a Stir

It wasn’t that hard to believe, but last week’s report that Tom Cruise would be performing a stunt to close out this year’s Olympic Games was confirmed today when the thrill-seeker and cinematic legend rappelled into Stad de France to retrieve the Olympic Flag. The sequence began with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accompanied by Team USA gold medalist Simone Biles, accepting the flag in a hand off from the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.

Following Bass’ receiving of the flag, H.E.R. performed a jazzy, rock and roll-inspired version of the Star-Spangled Banner. As she continued to play, the broadcast cut to a shot of Cruise at the top of the Stad de France, then followed as he rappelled down into the stadium among the crowd. Wading through, he arrived on stage where Mayor Bass and Biles passed the flag off. Cruise then took off out of the stadium on a motorcycle, at which point the closing ceremony broadcast cut to a prerecorded segment that featured the actor driving through Paris, taking off in a carrier plane, and flying halfway across the world to California.

Hovering over Los Angeles, Cruise skydived out of the plane with the flag, landed right near the Hollywood sign, then proceeded to set the sign up so the OOs of WOOD appeared as the Olympic rings. An Olympic cyclist then biked up the mountain to meet Cruise and retrieve the flag. Biking throughout the city and passing it off to different Olympians, the sequence ultimately lands at Venice Beach, where the Red Hot Chili Peppers were waiting to perform. They were followed by performances by Billie Eilish and Paris Olympics staple Snoop Dogg, rapping alongside Dr. Dre, back on his home turf.

Cruise has been present throughout the Paris Olympics, most recently as a spectator for the Women’s Soccer Finals this weekend that saw Team USA win another gold medal, its first since the 2012 games in London. Other Hollywood luminaries have teased what LA 2028 may have in store by offering their services to this summer’s games. Steven Spielberg starred in and narrated a special introduction that welcomed us to the games and even Beyoncé helped out with a music video hyping up Team USA. In addition, figures like Lady Gaga and Celiné Dion made the streets of Paris cry out with joy over their performances during the opening ceremony.

In addition to Cruise’s stunt, the closing ceremony also saw performances from the French band Phoenix and Belgian singer Angele. Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend also joined Phoenix to sing “Tonight.” For the final performance, French singer Yseult closed out the games with a stunning rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” originally written by Paul Anka.

Watch video of Cruise’s stunts below.