The 2024 Paris Olympic Games have concluded, once again highlighting the pinnacle of sports, the people behind it, and the stories of success, resilience, and effort that define each competition.
But the event wasn’t solely about the disciplines. The Opening Ceremony is still a hot topic, having boldly showcased every aspect of French culture. Despite its controversies, it surely gave us many moments to remember!
The Closing Ceremony faced the challenge of matching or exceeding the high bar set by its predecessor while bidding farewell to this edition of the world’s premier sporting event. Here, we explore the rumored costs associated with it.
Unveiling the costs of the 2024 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
While it’s well known that organizing an Opening Ceremony for such an event is costly, the spectacle crafted by artistic director Thomas Jolly for the Olympics seems to have set a new standard.
According to Deadline, Jolly was given a budget of $150 million to create the grand and extravagant show witnessed by the world on July 26. So, how do these costs compare to those of the Closing Ceremony?
It is likely that the Closing Ceremony cost less, primarily because it is a shorter event. The Opening Ceremony lasted nearly four hours, while the Closing Ceremony is planned for just two hours. At first glance, this seems to require less organization and therefore, potentially, less expenses.
However, the Closing Ceremony will still be a major spectacle, featuring around a hundred performers, acrobats, dancers, and circus artists transforming the Stade de France into a vibrant performance space. Traditional elements such as the national flags and the athletes’ parade will be present, but with Jolly’s creative twist.
Considering that this time the entire event will take place in a single venue rather than across various city locations, it’s reasonable to estimate that the cost for the Closing Ceremony was also somewhat lower in this aspect, but not drastically so. The venue has been transformed to accommodate acrobatics both on the ground and in the air, which is not inexpensive. Based on these factors, it’s estimated that at least $100 million was spent on the Closing Ceremony, or possibly a bit less.
Recent discussions have focused on whether a significant portion of the budget went to A-list American stars Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Tom Cruise, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who are marking the transition to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Truth is, there are strong rumors that these stars may not have been paid or received a maximum of $2 million each. If this latter information is real, the payments do not significantly affect the estimated $100 million spent on producing the Closing Ceremony.
