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Rio 2016 was an ‘iconic Games’, says International Olympic Committee chief

“It gives me an incredible feeling, and again a sense of real responsibility, that I have become a member of the IOC during the bid of my hometown, Budapest, to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games”, expressed Gyurta.

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Bach defended the IOC’s choice of Rio saying it would have again chosen the Brazilian city because the Olympics were staged “in the middle of reality”.

Saina Nehwal lost her second group league encounter 18-21, 19-21 to World No 61 Ukraine’s Maria Ulitina at Rio Olympics. “She came from the City of God and became an Olympic champion”. Pending approval, they will then be officially introduced at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 on 21 August. “We are ready to face social reality and address it”, he said.

“There you go. I’m the greatest”, said Bolt, whose third straight 100m, 200m and 4x100m sweep put him alongside Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi on nine track and field Olympic golds.

The preparation of the Games had been marred by construction delays and financial constraints.

Speaking positively about the prospects for the Paralympic Games, he said: “At London 2012, ticket sales began slowly, but later picked up a lot”.

A further BRL2.9 billion reais (£650 million/$890 million/€785 million) has been committed by the Federal Government in emergency aid to help provide Games-related security and infrastructure, including paying the wages of extra policeman to patrol the streets.

Hickey was part of the IOC’s powerful board and a long-time International Olympic Committee member but Bach offered little in terms of information regarding specific support for a once high-profile colleague, who sat right behind Bach at the August 5 opening Games ceremony.

Bach praised organisers, and singled out Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes for praise before repeatedly hailing the “iconic” nature of the Games.

“These games have been organised in a city where there are social problems, where there are social divides, where real life has continued”.

They were fined and released, with a spokesman for Games organisers calling it a “minor incident”. It is also Games in the middle of reality.

Gyurta will join the commission for a term of eight years, along with three other extraordinary athletes: Britta Heidemann from Germany, Seug-Min Ryu from Korea, and Yelena Isinbayeva from the Russian Federation.

Bach did admit that it was a “pity” there had been so many empty seats, particularly “in the early days of the Games, where there were challenges in transportation and access.”.

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“The key here was that a Chinese man won badminton gold”.

2016 Rio Olympics Rio's young athletes in pursuit of Bolt