Paris bids triumphant 'au revoir' to Olympics

PARIS, France — Paris prepared to bid a triumphant "au revoir" to the Olympics on Sunday (early Monday morning, Manila time) as the curtain came down on its widely praised staging of the global sporting spectacular.

A star-studded closing ceremony got under way in front of around 71,500 spectators at the Stade de France to crown an event that has been broadly acclaimed as one of the greatest editions of the Olympics ever held.

Around 270 artists and performers were scheduled to perform in the packed arena with an estimated 9,000 athletes expected to march into the venue.

The opening segment of the ceremony festivities began with France's swimming hero Leon Marchand -- winner of four gold medals at these Games -- gathering the Olympic flame from the cauldron in the centre of Paris to begin its journey to the Stade de France.

The glittering closing spectacle marks the beginning of the four-year countdown to the Los Angeles Olympics, with Hollywood star Tom Cruise expected to feature in a segment previewing the 2028 Games in California.

The ceremony is the final act of 17 days of frequently breathtaking sporting action set against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Chateau de Versailles.

In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony on the River Seine, the opening ceremony began as the sun set across the French capital.

The last day of sporting action saw the United States pip China for top spot in the battle for medals after the US women's basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games.

The win -- the eighth consecutive Olympic women's basketball won by the USA -- ensured the Americans finished level with China on 40 golds each as the games wrapped up.

The USA however finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91.

The Philippines, with flag bearers Carlos Yulo and Aira Villegas, ended the Paris Games with two gold medals and two bronze medals. 

The gymnast Yulo brought home the two golds in men’s vault and men’s floor exercise. Villegas took one of the bronzes, while fellow boxer Nesthy Petecio had the other. 

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