Billie Eilish’s Role in LA28 Olympics: A Deep Dive into the Handover Celebration

Billie Eilish put a casual spin on a preppy staple while performing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics handover celebration on Sunday. Following the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games, the spectacle featured performances from fellow Los Angeles natives Snoop Dogg and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Eilish, who performed alongside her brother and music producer Finneas, wore a Ralph Lauren polo shirt emblazoned with blue and red stripes and an American flag patch. The singer also added on a pair of khaki cargo shorts, accessorizing with Nike sneakers, argyle socks, and a striped denim cap. A silver Chrome Hearts dog tag necklace and rimless frames completed Eilish’s ensemble.

Finneas also sported Ralph Lauren, pairing a navy double-breasted blazer with a striped button-up, baggy khaki pants, and black sneakers. A faux lifeguard station with a graphic reading “LA 28” served as the duo’s stage. During the closing ceremony, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, passed the Olympic flag to Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles. H.E.R. performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a crystallized Ralph Lauren suit, while Tom Cruise descended into the Stade de France via wire — an obvious reference to major Hollywood productions like “Mission Impossible.”

Billie Eilish’s Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance: Video

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The 2024 Paris Olympics have come to an end, and there’s no better way to cap off Team USA’s winning streak than with Billie Eilish’s closing ceremony performance. The 22-year-old singer took to the stage wearing a Ralph Lauren Team USA polo to perform her single, “Birds of a Feather,” released in March 2024. Her brother, Finneas, also accompanied her onstage in Venice Beach, California. The Los Angeles native was just one of many American acts present at the Olympics closing ceremony, with other stars from her city—like Snoop Dogg, H.E.R., and the Red Hot Chili Peppers—all performing as part of the Olympics handover celebration from LA, which is where the next Summer Olympic Games will be hosted in 2028.

Executive producer and creator of the event, Ben Winston, shared the following in a statement: “The LA28 Handover promises to showcase the heartbeat of LA—which like the Olympics—is where people come from all over the world to pursue their dreams. We hope to showcase a collection of Los Angeles stories—featuring the city’s people, creativity, music and of course sport, all wrapped up with a little Hollywood magic—to invite the world into the LA28 Games.”

As it turns out, Billie’s closing ceremony performance has been in the works for quite some time. In an interview recorded four years ago, Billie opened up about her love for her city and her excitement about her participation ahead of the 2028 Olympics in LA. “As much as people think LA is unfriendly, I think it’s pretty friendly. It’s there to help you,” she said of her city. “LA kind of has everything. You don’t even realize it. There’s like a couple little spots that I like to go to be alone. I love driving. That’s all I do. Now, it really feels like my home. Every time I come back, I feel back to myself and back to who I am and my roots. LA is inspiring in a lot of ways.”

“The Olympics is the Olympics,” she emphasized. “That’s everybody all over the world coming together. I’m looking forward to that.” Billie also went on to reveal that she played a role in designing the LA28 logo. “The font is the font that I use for my logo,” she shared. “And who knows if that’s going to be relevant in my life in eight years, but I have this whole thing about not wanting to please my past self or my future self. It’s all about pleasing your present self. I don’t know what all my life is going to be like in eight years. I’m really just looking forward to the future.” Now, given her performance at the closing ceremony, we’d wager to say past Billie would be pretty proud!

Billie Eilish’s Long Ponytail Is So Sporty At The 2028 Olympics

They might be a full four years away, but anticipation is already sky-high for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. France passed the torch to the U.S. at the 2024 Games’ Closing Ceremony on Aug. 11, where it was taken by a cast of celebrities, athletes, and cultural icons and brought straight to Hollywood. Stars were chosen for their legendary relationship to Southern California, including Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas. The pair performed live right on the sunny beach—complete with a Team USA-themed outfit and even an athletics-approved hairstyle.

Eilish’s ponytail at the 2028 Olympics Handover event is an unexpected choice for the usually edgy singer, but it’s a perfect choice for the sporty ceremony. The musical siblings served as the penultimate act in L.A., performing a rendition of “Birds Of A Feather” after the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ set and just before Snoop Dogg closed things out for the night. Dressed in long khaki shorts and an oversized red, white, and blue Ralph Lauren polo shirt, Eilish looked like she could be a medal-winning athlete fresh from the 2024 Paris Games herself.

What really cemented the sporty effect was the long, loosely-tied ponytail trailing down her back, secured with a navy ribbon and topped with a pinstripe ball cap. Plenty of layers were left to fall free from the hat and frame Eilish’s face, surely an inevitability when performing right on the shore—the billowing wind was visible even through the live broadcast. The loose pieces underscored the casual, sporty nature of the singer’s look, though. She usually opts for a more elaborate on-stage aesthetic, but this performance was remarkably understated.

Eilish’s makeup was simple and rosy, her nails were natural and bare, and she wore her pair of frameless seeing glasses—which highlighted how little eye makeup she wore, too. Even though she tied a dark blue ribbon in her ponytail, its color a perfect match to her hat, Eilish fashioned it into a low-key knot rather than a bow. Still, its long ends spilled down and blended with the rest of Eilish’s hair, a fun yet demure accessory moment. Overall, her Olympics Handover look just proves Eilish is such a beauty icon. No matter her project—be it a major movie soundtrack contribution or an athletic event performance—she finds a way to fit the theme but still maintain her individual sense of style.

Billie Eilish Welcomes the Olympics to Los Angeles

Billie Eilish finished off the 2024 Paris Olympics with a short and sweet performance. As the Games came to an end on Sunday with an elaborate closing ceremony—which also included performances by Snoop Dogg, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and H.E.R.—Eilish blew the crowd away with a rendition of “Birds of a Feather.” The singer performed alongside her brother, Finneas, against a beachy backdrop. For the occasion, she wore her usual baggy uniform, this time courtesy of Ralph Lauren. Up top, she opted for an oversized short-sleeve polo top.

Eilish represented her hometown of Los Angeles, which is set to be the next Olympics destination come 2028. “This is the biggest moment in LA28 history to date, as the Olympic flag passes from Paris to LA,” LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman said in a statement. “We are thrilled to feature the very best of LA with local artists and are grateful to Billie, H.E.R., the Chili Peppers and Snoop for their collaboration on what will be an incredible show to a global audience that will give fans a taste of what’s to come in 2028.”

The Olympic handover began when H.E.R. sang the U.S. national anthem, welcoming the Games to America. Her performance was followed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who sang their hit “Can’t Stop.” Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg—an avid supporter of the Games—performed his song “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” Team USA Olympians also joined the program. Skateboarder Jagger Eaton (two-time Olympic medalist), mountain biker Kate Courtney, and track and field gold medalist Michael Johnson—who is widely regarded as one of the best sprinters of all time—made appearances, each repping a custom-designed LA28 emblem.

Held in the Olympic stadium, the closing ceremony also celebrated all the hard work of the athletes with the presenting of medals. After, the Olympic flame was extinguished to signal the end of the Games, while the Greek national anthem was played to acknowledge the roots of the long-standing sporting event.

Our advice on the city

Los Angeles is a city that offers a plethora of experiences, from its iconic beaches to its vibrant arts scene. For occasional travelers, we recommend taking a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. This scenic route offers breathtaking views of the ocean and is a great way to experience the natural beauty of California.

For expert travelers, consider exploring the lesser-known neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Areas like Silver Lake and Echo Park offer a more local experience, with unique shops, cafes, and street art. These neighborhoods are also home to some of the city’s best hidden gems, providing a deeper understanding of LA’s diverse culture.

In conclusion, Los Angeles is a city that continues to inspire and captivate. Whether you’re here for the Olympics or just passing through, there’s always something new to discover. So take the time to explore, and you might just find your own little piece of LA magic.