As Los Angeles gears up for the historic Olympic baton pass during the august Closing Ceremony on August 11 in the city of lights, Paris, whispers of a grandeur entrance by none other than Tom Cruise are swirling. Having already graced the Opening Ceremony and select competitions with his presence, the charismatic star of Mission: Impossible is poised to make a literal skydiving entrance as the Olympic flag is ceremoniously transferred to the 2028 host city, according to insiders privy to the event's intricacies, who shared with Deadline.
Details surrounding the Closing Ceremony remain tightly under wraps, shrouded in mystery, but one thing is clear: Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles will proudly receive the Olympic flag from Paris's Mayor Anne Hidalgo amidst a spectacle that promises to be a Hollywood-style extravaganza, as revealed by a well-informed source to Deadline.
NBC Sports has remained tight-lipped on Cruise's potential involvement, orchestrated by CAA, and other closely guarded secrets of the handover ceremony. The anticipation is palpable, especially considering the Paris Opening Ceremony on July 26 captivated nearly 29 million viewers, marking a staggering 60% surge from the pandemic-shadowed 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which garnered a modest 17 million viewers across NBC platforms amidst the eerie silence of empty stadiums.
Under the stewardship of Casey Wasserman, the 2028 Summer Olympics will ignite a 17-day spectacle from July 14 to 30 in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, which has already etched its name in Olympic history with hosting duties in 1932 and 1984. The Games of the XXXIV Olympiad are poised to kick off at the iconic Coliseum, a venue steeped in history from the 1932 event, forming part of the Downtown Sports Park – a stellar ensemble of venues encompassing Crypto.com Arena, the Convention Center, the L.A. Football Club Stadium, USC's Galen Center, and the Peacock Theater, all set to illuminate the world stage.
