After a two-week sporting spectacular, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is coming to a close.
More than 10,000 athletes representing 206 nations have competed in 32 sports during the Games, winning hundreds of medals and countless hearts along the way.
For Australia, it’s been , with the women and men in the green and gold breaking records and bringing home our largest-ever gold medal haul.
Here’s what to expect at the closing ceremony.
When is the closing ceremony?
The closing ceremony will start at 8pm (local time) on Sunday 11 August in Paris.
That means anyone in Australia wanting to watch it live will have to be up early on Monday 12 August:
- NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, ACT — 4am AEST
- South Australia, Northern Territory — 3.30am ACST
- Western Australia — 2am AWST
How can I watch it?
The Nine Network is the official Australian broadcaster of the Olympics, meaning you can watch the closing ceremony for free on Channel 9 and 9Gem.
If you prefer a group atmosphere, you can catch it at one of the official live sites, like Melbourne’s Federation Square.
You can also stream the closing ceremony live or on-demand on 9Now and Stan Sport.
What can I expect?
Unlike , which took place on the River Seine, the closing ceremony will be held on dry land at the Stade de France.
As is tradition, it will feature the athletes’ parade, a medal presentation ceremony, and a thank you for volunteers.
Kaylee McKeown and Matt Wearn — who have both won gold medals at this year’s Games — will lead the Australian delegation as flag bearers at the closing ceremony.
The Olympic flame will also be extinguished and the flag lowered before it’s handed over to the host of the 2028 Summer Games, Los Angeles.
That part of the closing ceremony is expected to feature a mix of prerecorded and live performances in LA from Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, according to entertainment magazine Variety.
It’s rumoured actor Tom Cruise will also make an appearance after celebrity news website TMZ reported the Mission Impossible star had filmed stunts in both Paris and LA.
The rest of the closing ceremony’s entertainment line-up is yet to be revealed, with organisers saying a “visual spectacle” called Record will feature over 100 performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists.
They’ve also teased the performances of “world-renowned singers”, but haven’t announced who they will be.
When do the Paralympics start?
If you want more elite sporting action, the Paralympics will kick off in Paris on 28 August local time (29 August Australian time) and run until 8 September (9 September Australian time).
Who will host the next Olympic and Paralympic Games?
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy will host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics from 6 to 22 February 2026.
Meanwhile, the next Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles from 14 to 30 July 2028.
In 2032 it will be , marking the third time the Olympics have been held on Australian soil.