The Japanese flag was formed during the closing ceremony, signifying the handover of the Olympic flag for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
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A street carnival in Maracana as Brazil’s culture was celebrated through art, music and dance. One of the highlights was Tokyo’s impressive teaser for the next event.
After a rollercoaster fortnight which mixed off-field hitches with compelling sporting drama, Olympics chief Thomas Bach hailed a “marvellous” Games in the Brazilian city.
“Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in hard times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life”.
Only three other gymnasts have won four gold medals in a single Games, most recently Ekaterina Szabo in 1984.
The emergence of prime minster Shinzo Abe from a large green pipe dressed in the guise of 1980s video game icon Super Mario did indicate Tokyo 2020 has inherited Rio’s admirable sense of self-deprecation. And on Sunday night, during the closing ceremony, it seemed every top athlete from around the world wanted a slice – er, a selfie – with Biles.
The colourful ceremony included lavish displays of national and worldwide patriotism which befits the games; complete with costumes and elaborate dance productions.
Katie Ledecky in the women’s 400m freestyle final: She smashed the world record (which was set by her) and finished 45 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s Jazmin Carlin who took silver.
Instead, all of the athletes file into the stadium together, symbolizing the bond they now share, thanks to the games they have participated in, competed in and endured, together.
The Rio carnival anthem “Cidade Maravilhosa” played as the party reached a crescendo. The ceremony concluded with massive and outstanding firework show with confetti.
Toyko’s governor Yuriko Koike held the Olympic flag to symbolise the passing of the Games.
Super Mario was then seen drilling through the centre of the earth to Rio, before Abe appearing in person in the centre of the stadium, tearing off his Super Mario mask to roaring applause.
Pyrotechnics explode during the closing ceremony for the Summer Olympic inside Maracana stadium in Rio. Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in hard times for all of us, with its irresistible joy of life.
Olympics are special and there are many reasons. These Games demonstrated that diversity is an enrichment for everyone.
The closing ceremony Sunday celebrated the 16-day spectacle that was the Rio Games, which combined numerous highlights with ugly and even weird episodes that sometimes overshadowed competition.
“These were a marvelous Olympic Games in a marvelous city”.
Furthermore, Bach dropped more attractive words for Rio, saying that the city is leaving a unique legacy and that the history will have to mention about how Rio was before and how Rio has become better after the 2016 Olympics.
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Despite all the controversies and problems before the Rio Games the general verdict was that it had all been a great success. “I am so proud of my city, my country and my people”. “Rio has delivered history”.
