Rain drenched performers and hundreds of athletes as they entered the party, many with medals hanging around their necks, like the USA men’s basketball team which won gold on Sunday.
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The top 10 finish is respectable but still a poorer performance than in the last two Olympics, when it ranked second among Asian countries after China.
On the final day of the Rio Olympics, Uzbekistan scored two gold medals in boxing.
Overcast conditions and a continuous drizzle failed to dampen the spirits as, in a ceremony splashed with boisterous celebrations breathtaking fireworks, splendid Brazilian music and entertainment, Rio de Janeiro gave an emotional send-off to athletes from all over the planet who had made the 31st edition of the Olympic Games overwhelming success at the iconic Maracana Stadium here on Sunday night.
“Every Olympics has its own set of issues”, said Meghan Musnicki, a member of the US gold medal-winning eight rowing team, which competed in the most-discussed water on the planet. Neymars game-winning penalty kick decided a shootout and clinched the mens soccer gold medal for Brazil, a host that wasnt a factor in the medal standings but got the gold that it probably wanted most.
Eight other nations earned their first Olympic gold medal: Bahrain in the women’s steeplechase, Fiji in the men’s Rugby Sevens, Ivory Coast and Jordan in the men’s taekwondo, Kosovo in women’s judo, Puerto Rico in women’s tennis, Tajikistan in men’s hammer-throwing and Vietnam in men’s shooting. Bronze medals, meanwhile, have a value of just $2.16. Russian Federation was at the fourth position with 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze medals.
Russian Federation won its fifth straight Olympic gold medal in the group all-around event in rhythmic gymnastics.
The build-up to the Games was dominated by a Russian doping scandal, fears over the Zika virus and issues with the city’s security, infrastructure and venues.
The Danes, understandably frustrated and miserable after their near-miss, could have learned the finer points of sportsmanship from India’s PV Sindhu, who was narrowly vanquished by a vastly superior world and European champion, Carolina Marin of Spain, in the women’s singles final, but accepted her defeat with grace and dignity.
China began its quest at the Games without winning gold on day one.
There was the remarkable comeback of American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won five golds to reinforce his distinction as the most decorated Olympian of all time.
The diving pool turned green. Efimova has twice been banned.
And then there was Ryan Lochte. And so it was with Brazil’s final flurry of gold as well.
“We are in a hard moment as a country right now, we can’t hide that, but the Games were scheduled and I’m glad we could enjoy them”, said Alessandro Freitas, also from Rio.
“We are equal now”, said marathon runner Yonas Kinde, who is originally from Ethiopia.
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said the Olympics have been a catalyst for building new public transport lines and renovating the port area, insisting that no white elephants will be left behind.
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Highlights included a Brazilian hen party popping in, which ended with a wedding invitation for the BBC presenter, and the Copacabinmen.
