Fans are eagerly awaiting the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after a show-stopping closing ceremony left patriotic viewers licking their chops for what’s to come at the next Summer Games.
Hollywood legend Tom Cruise kicked off the Paris-to-Los-Angeles handover by jumping from the roof of the Stade de France in a death-defying stunt.
Across the Atlantic, L.A. showed off its star power with live performances from California natives the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg on sun-drenched Venice Beach.
Impressed fans felt the extravagant performance proved that the City of Angels is ready to take on the challenge of hosting the games, with users on social media looking forward to seeing what America brings.
‘I can’t wait to see what the US opening/closing ceremonies are like. Definitely none of this avant garde s**t. The world better be ready for cowboys, guns, Budweisers and lots of stars & stripes,’ one person wrote on X.
Olympic fans eagerly waiting the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles were moved by Team USA’s camaraderie
Action star Tom Cruise kicked off the Olympic handover by jumping from the roof of the Stade de France in a death-defying stunt
Los Angeles showed it is ready for the games with live performances from Californian natives Snoop Dogg (pictured), the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Billie Eilish on Venice Beach
‘They said America has no culture and then we pulled up to closing ceremony with hip hop, V8 power, thick b*****s and guitars. Umm, HELLO,’ said another.
Cruise jumped from the roof as R’n’B star H.E.R. sang the National Anthem accompanied by her electric guitar.
‘America is SO America. Tom Cruise really had to drop from the rafters of a stadium to the tune of electric guitar rifs for the Olympic closing ceremony,’ a user added.
‘That Tom Cruise Olympic flag sequence was exactly what America needed. We needed to let the world know just how Cocky, arrogant and annoying we’re gonna be in 4 years,’ another said.
Once safely back on the ground, Cruise was handed the five-ringed Olympic flag by gymnast Simone Biles and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, planting onto the back of a waiting motorcycle.
Dressed in his trademark leather jacket, the action star then drove out of the arena through a sea of cheering athletes.
The actor’s stunt came after a wacky show of opening ceremony performances, including a composer playing on a piano suspended in the air, a ‘golden voyager’ accompanied by dozens of dancers and many acclaimed French musicians.
After the Olympic flag was passed among several US Olympians, it arrived at Venice Beach, where the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed their hit song Can’t Stop.
The band then handed off to Eilish, who delivered a sweet rendition of her new track Birds of a Feather.
Snoop Dogg, who popped up at various events across the Paris Olympics, strolled on to the beach to perform his classic track Drop It Like It’s Hot before taking the stage alongside fellow L.A. rapper Dr. Dre.
‘The closing ceremony went from dangling piano guy to “f**k yeah America,” ‘ a user wrote in response.
Many fans said they were touched by the sportsmanship Team USA displayed – warning the world of what’s to come when the games arrive on their home turf.
‘The camaraderie amongst Team USA‘s athletes is beautiful to watch at the closing ceremony,’ one person wrote. ‘The world’s gonna find America insufferable during #LA28 and I am here for it.’