Olympics closing ceremony thrown into chaos after Eiffel Tower evacuated

The Olympics closing ceremony has been thrown into chaos after the Eiffel Tower was evacuated.

The showpiece in Paris is wrapped up with a special event at the Stade de France on Sunday evening.

Proceedings are to kick off at 20:00 BST and last until 22:30 but hours before, doubts have been raised after it emerged a man had been climbing up the iconic 330-metre tower.

Sky News reported on the incident, with other footage shared showing a shirtless man climbing up the Olympic rings which had been added to the landmark.

Tourists had to be leave due to health and safety measures in place, with the entrance blow closed as a result.

Some guy is climbing on the Olympic Rings at the Eiffel Tower. You can see him on the blue ring.

Tourists are being evacuated for safety. Entry beneath the tower is closed.

He took 'climb the Eiffel Tower' too literally! #Olympics #Paris2024 @NBCOlympics @NBCNews @latimes pic.twitter.com/01BFmJqTOV

— kevinwinston (@kevinwinston) August 11, 2024

For the opening ceremony, Celine Dion performed from one of the Eiffel Tower viewing areas but it is not expected to be part of the closing show.

The individual in question becomes the latest person to attempt to scale the structure after it happened in both 2019 and 2015.

Snoop Dogg, Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers are all involved in the ceremony, while there are strong rumours about a crazy stunt from Hollywood legend Tom Cruise.

The Top Gun star has been tipped to abseil down the stadium in his latest feat.

The event will be streamed live in the UK on BBC One and will feature the all-important hand over from Paris to Los Angeles - the next hosts in 2028.

Paris' mayor Anne Hidalgo will pass over the Olympic flag to Karen Bass, LA's equivalent, while R&B singer H.E.R will sing the US national anthem.

Athletes and flagbearers will be paraded in front of the Paris fans and the rest of the world.

The artistic element of the ceremony has been directed by Thomas Jolly and will be a science-fiction production - starting with the origin of the Olympics and moving to time and even to a point where the Games are no more.