The 33rd Olympic Games concluded Sunday night at the Stade de France in Paris. IOC President Thomas Bach described the event in Paris as “sensational Games, from start to finish.” Or, as the president jokingly corrected himself: “Seine-sational Games.”
The closing ceremony began with the entrance of the athletes. On behalf of the Netherlands, track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen and athlete Femke Bol carried the flag. Traditionally, the medal winners of the marathon were then honored.
Unlike previous Games, this time it was the women who were honoured. Sifan Hassan was the radiant centrepiece. She received her gold medal from IOC President Thomas Bach, to which the Wilhelmus sounded in the Stade de France.
Thanks to her victory and Harrie Lavreysen’s gold in the keirin, the Netherlands rose to sixth place on the medal table on the final day of the Games. Never before did our country finish so high in the final rankings. Three years ago in Tokyo, the Netherlands finished in seventh place.
TeamNL returns home with 34 medals. Fifteen of them are gold. That is also a record. The previous record was set 24 years ago. In Sydney 2000, twelve gold medals went to the Netherlands. Out of a total of 300 events, that was a percentage of four percent. Of the 329 events in Paris, 4.56 percent were won by TeamNL. In addition, the Netherlands won seven silver medals and twelve bronze medals.
The show showed a dystopian world, in which the Games were rediscovered. From the rubble, the Olympic rings were rebuilt, as a symbol of connection, peace, equality and solidarity.
After a performance by a selection of French artists, the official part took place. The president of the organizing committee Tony Estanguet addressed the audience. He emphasized that the sports festival is not over with the closing ceremony, but that the Paralympic Games will start in Paris on August 28.
Then it was Thomas Bach’s turn. “These were the first Olympic Games according to our new guidelines: younger, more urban, more inclusive and more sustainable,” he said. “And above all, the first Games with full gender equality.”
Read Thomas Bach’s full speech here.
These were the first Olympic Games according to our new guidelines: younger, more urban, more inclusive and more sustainable. And above all, the first Games with full gender equality
Thomas Bach
The IOC president praised the athletes’ achievements. “With every achievement, you moved the world,” he said. “Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone. The Olympic Games cannot bring peace, but they can create a culture of peace that inspires the world.”
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo then handed over the Olympic flag to Karen Bass, her colleague from Los Angeles, where the next Summer Games will take place in four years. Then it became a show with the entrance of Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who took off on his motorcycle and brought the flag to California. On the beach of Venice Beach the trip ended with a performance by various American artists.
At 11:58 p.m., Thomas Bach declared the 33rd Olympic Games closed and the flame was extinguished.
