The Paris Olympics Concluded with the United States Leading the Medal Table

The Paris 2024 Olympics concluded on Sunday evening, August 12, after two weeks of competitions in various sports, with American athletes topping the medal table. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, announced at the closing ceremony held at the Stade de France in northern Paris, "I declare the end of the Paris 2024 Games." Mr. Bach will step down from his position after twelve years next year. The last event held at this year's Olympics was the women's basketball final, which the U.S. team won. The United States managed to win as many gold medals as China, with 40 golds, but topped the medal table due to winning more silver and bronze medals. The U.S. also had a significant lead in the total number of medals won (126) compared to other countries. Following the U.S. and China, Japan, Australia, and France secured the next positions in the Paris Olympics medal table. France ended its games with 64 medals, including 16 golds, ranking fifth, which is an unprecedented record in Olympic history for the country. Iran also ranked 21st in this table, with three gold medals, six silver medals, and three bronze medals. At the end of the 16-day competition, the Olympic flag was handed over from the capital city of France to Los Angeles in the United States, which will host the 2028 Olympics. After the transfer of the Olympic flag between the mayors of the two metropolises, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise symbolically connected Paris-2024 and Los Angeles-2028. He descended from the roof of the Stade de France, took the Olympic five-ring flag before riding a motorcycle in a pre-recorded scene to California. Tony Estanguet, the head of the Olympic organizing committee, stated that "France has found itself again." France has been embroiled in a political crisis since before the Paris Olympics, and the country has yet to appoint its prime minister. Additionally, some performances at the opening ceremony sparked a wave of criticism among right-wing and religious leaders in the West.