Olympic spectators have just discovered the meaning behind the set design of this year’s closing ceremony.

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are over and the French capital is celebrating with the traditional closing ceremony.

People were confused by the stage setting (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

But when watching at home, some viewers were confused by the set design.

Many admitted they were stunned by what they saw, while others wondered what it could be.

Some put forward the idea that it might have been a “geometric cat,” while someone else suggested a horse or even “pieces of cake.”

But after staring at it long enough, viewers finally realized what they were seeing.

“Is this stage designed somewhat like a world map?” one person asked.

And another said: “It took me a good 15 minutes to figure out that this stage is the world map.”

And a third said: “‘OH! It’s a map!’ says the whole living room at the same time, after a discussion about whether it was a horse, chess pieces, a Star Trek diorama or pieces of cake competing in a fencing match.”

And a fourth added: “I just noticed that the central stage is the world map and not a geometric cat.”

The stage represents a world map (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Even when the Olympic flame was extinguished “too early” in the evening, this caused confusion among the fans.

The Olympic flame is a central part of the Games and, according to the Olympic Museum, “a manifestation of the positive values ​​that man has always associated with the symbolism of fire”.

At this year’s Games, the Olympic flame was carried by French team swimmer Leon Marchand, but people were alarmed when it went out so quickly.

One wrote: “In my opinion the most disappointing Olympic flame ever. I missed seeing it in the stadium.”

Another said: “I thought the flame would burn until just before the end of the closing ceremony.”

And a third added: “This is a really disappointing extinguishing of the flame and too early in the ceremony. It should have flown again.”

Others were confused when they turned it on and saw that the flame was already extinguished, with another adding: “The flame is already out?!? That was quick!”

And another said: “I was not prepared for the Olympic flame to be extinguished so early during the closing ceremony.”

And a third wrote: “Oh. Is Vasque already out for the Olympics? Paris won’t wait long to extinguish the flame.”

The next Olympic Games will be hosted by Los Angeles in 2028.