The governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, accepted the flag from International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, signaling the transition.
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But there were also ugly episodes, like American swimmer Ryan Lochte’s fabricated story about a harrowing robbery that was actually an intoxicated-fueled vandalism of a gas station bathroom, and weird issues like Olympic diving pools going from crystal blue to gunky, algae green – at a time when Rio’s water quality in open waters is one of the biggest local environmental issues.
Flagbearers for participating nations walk around the centre of Maracana Stadium. They created a tunnel that links Tokyo (hosts of the 2020 Games) and Rio, with a green pipe-like entrance protruding from Rio.
Homes fill the hillside outside Maracana stadium, seen through the Olympic rings, shortly before the Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. “I love it!” moments that Olympic ceremonies pull off at their best.
“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.
While these games have been criticized for not having full seats, Maracana – where Brazil’s men’s soccer team won gold last night – is full of people who came out to enjoy the unique spectacle the Olympics brings.
Another winning segment came earlier, when Grupo Corpo, a contemporary dance troupe from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, put on part of “Parabelo”, one of its shows, at the ceremony.
For all the troubles before and during the Games, Rio will surely be remembered for great sporting moments. That ignited further security concerns after a series of assaults against government ministers, athletes and tourists. And American gymnast Simone Biles, the USA flag bearer in the closing ceremony, kicked off her Olympic run by tying the record of four gold medals in a single Games.
It was also the country’s largest Olympic team with 199 contenders.
When the flames were gone and the sculpture stopped, a big thee sprouted in the middle of the arena as fireworks took off and carnival floats entered the stadium, bringing fans and athletes to their feet for the final samba of the Games, during which 87 countries won medals.
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And come Monday, with the Games no longer a distraction, Brazil gets back to its dour reality of duelling political and economic crises. Here are just a few reactions viewers had while watching the closing ceremony. An impeachment vote in coming days could lead to the permanent ouster of suspended President Dilma Rousseff.
