“These Olympic Games are leaving a unique legacy for generations to come”, he said. So it will be with the performance of Team USA at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, which will be a test of the axiom that says winning cures everything.
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The nagging showers and a strong wind failed to dampen the spirit of the 11,000-odd athletes who mingled freely in the true spirit of Olympic camaraderie and bade farewell to one another cutting across national barriers. When Rio’s mayor assures the world an economic crisis will not affect the games, but the state governor has to plead for funding from the federal government to keep the city’s basic health, education, transport and environment services running, you have to wonder about the world’s priorities. “Bye bye Rio”, Bach said. “You will have a place in our hearts forever”, he told the Maracana, drawing thunderous applause.
In a final symbolic act, the Olympic flame that had burned since August 5 was then extinguished in a downpour of artificial rain.
The US, with 121 metal pieces (46-37-38) took the top position, leaving closest challengers Britain far behind at 67 (27-23-17). Doubts had crept in whether the ceremony would be as colourful as it was planned.
Interim head of state Michel Temer, booed at the opening ceremony and harangued wherever he went, kept a low profile during Sunday’s closing celebrations.
GASOL’S GOODBYE?: Pau Gasol scored 31 points in what might have been his final Olympic game and Spain added a bronze to its collection on Sunday with an 89-88 win over Australia, again denied its first medal inside the rings.
The Brazilians hold that Dumont was the first man to wear a wristwatch as he wanted to see the time while flying his aircraft. Sergio Rodriguez made two free throws with 5.4 seconds left and the Spaniards, who captured silver in 2008 at Beijing and the London Games, got the defensive stop they needed.
Twenty-seven children representing the 26 districts sang the Brazilian national anthem, while the percussions of an African tambourine heightened the ethereal effect.
But the athletes themselves also contributed to Brazil’s positive marketing.
Here are the best sights from the last day in Rio.
She added: “We have had an wonderful fortnight at the Rio Olympics and we should be looking at the differing ways that we can recognise and reward the athletes for all they have achieved and honours are there to recognise and reward people”. Two of the representative volunteers were handed out bouquets, while singer Lenine belted out a song, and the crowd gave them a warm ovation.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s brief but show-stopping gig at the Olympic closing ceremony as the Nintendo game character Super Mario offered a tantalizing glimpse at Tokyo’s plans for the 2020 Games. The closing ceremony included a Tokyo 2020 handover presentation.
For all the troubles before and during the Games, Rio will surely be remembered for great sporting moments.
Among those winners were Bradley Wiggins, who now has the most medals of any British Olympian with eight, including five gold, and Jason Kenny, who joined Chris Hoy on six as victor of most golds.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt drew down the curtain on his brilliant Olympic career by securing a sweep of the sprint titles for a third successive Games.
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Another priceless moment was the launch of the Olympic Channel amidst peppy tunes of Norwegian pop sensation Kygo, whose offerings saw the assembled athletes dance to their merriment as they relaxed, took selfies and savoured every moment of the closing ceremony of the Games.
