Olympics fans hand out ‘gold medal for lip syncing’ as closing ceremony band blasted for performance

OLYMPIC fans have accused the lead singer of the band Phoenix of lip synching during the closing ceremony.

The French band took to the stage to kick off the musical segment but left those watching at home unimpressed after a series of sound issues – and appearing to mime along.

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Commenting on their performance, one viewer wrote: “Gold medal for Lip Syncing. These guys.”

A second said: “This is some of the worst lip syncing I’ve seen in a while.”

While a third added: “The whole musical part is lip sync / mine. Completely shameful. Wouldn’t be so bad if it even sounded good but it’s a technical mess.”

The group from Versailles is fronted by Thomas Mars.

They got the Olympians jumping along to their hit Lisztomania, were and were later joined by Belgian singer Angele.

French electro house artist Kavinsky also performed his classic song Nightcall while a cloaked guitarist shredded on the guitar after Cambodian rapper Vannda performed.

Lead singer of American indie band Vampire Weekend, Ezra Koenig, then joined Phoenix to begin the handover to the States for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Sunday’s extravagant event opened with a rendition of Under The Paris Sky, from the 1951 film of the same name, performed by French singer Zaho de Sagazan and an accompanying choir.

The group performed the song in the Tuileries Garden in Paris before French four-time gold medallist swimmer Leon Marchand appeared to carrying a small flame to the Stade de France.

After thousands of Olympians poured into the Stade de France with their home countries, they joined together for some karaoke.

The sing-along section included Les Champs-Elysees, Gala Rizzatto’s Freed From Desire and Queen’s classic We Are The Champions.

The theatrical “record” section of the ceremony opened with dramatic music performed by an orchestra as a dazzling light show shot beams throughout the stadium.

The section pays tribute to the records set by the athletes as well as the “golden record” which served as a time capsule when it was sent into space in 1977.

A “golden voyager” dressed in an elaborate gold costume was then lowered to the stage from the roof to help tell the history of the Olympics.

On their journey, a cloaked individual presented them with a Greek flag, to represent the Games’ ancient origin.

The voyager was later joined on stage by a group of acrobats who were dressed as alien-like creatures who helped the voyager discover the Olympic rings which were hoisted from the stadium floor into the air.

French pianist and opera singer Benjamin Bernheim then delivered a rendition of Hymn To Apollo as composer Alain Roche played on a piano while being suspended in the air.

Reuters