The country that historically claims ‘Grandeur’ in all stages, from social liberties to science, fine cuisine and winery to arts, education, values and, yes… sporting legacy, closed out the Summer Olympics in style after setting the bar high with the unprecedented Paris 2024 opening ceremony in the River Seine 17 days ago.

Artistic director Thomas Jolly,who received criticism from some conservative and religious groups for showcasing progressive values throughout the proceedings, designed the closure spectacle as well, which heavily involved oneiric and futuristic imagery, live rock and electronical music, a Hollywoodesque transition to the 2028 Los Angeles Games and a powerful speech by Paris 2024 organiser Tony Estanguet.

“Thank you all. The hardest thing when you love each other is to say ‘au revoir’, and we have all fallen in love with these Games. But we will be back in 16 days with the Paralympic Games in the same venues”, Estanguet proclaimed. “To you, dear athletes, what can I say. We knew you would be brilliant. But you were magic. ... You made us happy. You made us feel alive.”

From France’s own Zaho de Sagazan singing ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’ in the Tuileries Gardens to fans in the arena belting out Joe Dassin’s ‘Les Champs-Élysées’, the show featured a myriad of local stars and blockbuster headliners like Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg and Tom Cruise, who took the Olympic flag back to LA and decorated its signature Hollywood sign in the hills with the five multi-coloured rings.

Parisian iconic sites were still present, though not as prominent this time around, as athletes paraded through the imposing Stade de France, which regularly holds national football and rugby team matches and has hosted concerts for top artists such as Prince, the Rolling Stones, and, more recently, Beyoncé.  Having been the home for rugby sevens and track and field during the Games it welcomed around 71,500 spectators who bid ‘au revoir’ to the third-ever Olympics in the City of Light.

Well-known stars and lesser-known athletes shone brightly in the Parisian venues the past two weeks, but none endeared himself more to local fans than French swimmer and four-gold-medal winner Léon Marchand, who extinguished the Olympic cauldron and picked up a lantern carrying the flame to kick off the proceedings in a spectacular setting.

The prominent rain that soaked performers, spectators and athletes in the opening ceremony did not show up this time as the Paris sun faded into a gorgeous backdrop while the protagonists took centre stage. Boxer Imane Khelif, who was involved in a gender eligibility controversy on her way to winning the gold medal, was expected to carry Algeria’s flag during the parade but instead gold medal-winning gymnast Kaylia Nemour and bronze-winning track star Djamel Sedjati did the honours, with no further explanation from the African country’s delegation.

As France has experienced the ‘Games of equality’ per organisers, citing equity un numbers regarding men and women athletes, the closing ceremony seemed to underline the effort to include all while some of the enigmatic video game-type characters from June 26th, like the ‘Golden Voyager’, made repeat appearances in a rather toned-down spectacle in comparison.

While artistic creativity and athletic prowess were needed to lift the five majestic Olympic rings atop the Stade France sky, the US part of the show started out with bang: ‘Mission Impossible’s’ Cruise, known for performing his own stunts, dropped from the rafters and into the stadium before grabbing the flag from fellow American and Gymnastics’ all-timer Simone Biles; he then proceeded to ride off on a motorbike and past the Eiffel Tower in a pre-filmed segment showing him weaving through Parisian traffic, boarding a plane and skydiving into Tinseltown where the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg brilliantly performed concerts in sun-drenched Venice Beach.

Back in the Stade de France, the Olympic torch was carefully brought on stage by Marchand as the crowd chanted his name and the rest of the athletes joined in to hear Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, delivered his final message next to Estanguet.

"These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish. Or dare I say, Seine-sational Games," the IOC boss said jokingly. "Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you."

As Belgian pop star Angele previously sang out the lyrics to local electro house artist Kavinsky’s ‘Nightcall’, one couldn’t but relate to Lang’s ‘boutade’ regarding the French capital’s special stature among the world’s premier cities: “There’s something inside you that’s hard to explain… they are talking about boy, but you’re still the same,” she went.

And so went the 2024 Games, on to Los Angeles 2028, while Paris remains Paris and the world keeps on turning. The City of Light’s transformative effect on the Olympics, however, will be measured in due time.

As the night closed with French singer Yseult interpreting Frank Sinatra’s ‘My way’, Parisians can take pride in that they did just that, celebrating a Summer of ‘Grandeur’ to their own tune and inviting everyone to romantically sing along.