Despite such criticisms, officials and the public still often link China’s Olympic success to its national rise. It is also very much present in the legacy that the Games will leave for the residents of the host city. China, who claimed a whooping 88 medals at the London 2012 Olympics and stood second to the United States, were left disappointed with their performance at this year’s Summer Games. Russian Federation – with its track team told to stay home because of the doping probe and a cloud hovering over its athletes who were in Rio, some of whom got publicly called out by competitors – finished with 19 golds and 56 medals overall, both well below its normal showings.
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In the first day of competition, 12 medals were awarded, including the women’s 400-meter relay which was won by the Hungarian entry.
TEAM GB’s success in the Olympics shows the strength of the Union between Scotland and England, No 10 has suggested as it made clear that the successful athletes can expect to receive a range of honours, reflecting their “amazing” achievements.
Farah’s triumph means he becomes just the second man after Finland’s Lasse Viren to win both long-distance events at successive Olympics.
She added: “We have had an awesome 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”.
Brazil added a final flourish as they beat Italy 3-0 to win the men’s title in volleyball, one of the country’s most popular sports. It was special for me as I had been following the career of Great Britain’s Nicola White for 10 years and memorable to share in her moment of triumph and also spend time with her family and witness their joy.
India, who had finished their London 2012 Olympic campaign with 2 Silver and 4 Bronze medals, slumped to 67th spot with just two medals (1 Silver, 1 Bronze) in this year’s Olympics.
“It is a better city and is still a magic place”.
The one that seemed to mean the most to the great American swimmer was the 200 metre butterfly.
But Lochte’s story quickly unravelled, enraging Brazilians and Americans alike.
“I’m going to take a vacation, take some time off, and then you know, I never say never”, Raisman told Matt Lauer.
“Even with all our problems we pulled off a good Olympics”.
For many in the soccer-mad nation, the best Olympic moments happened in the Maracana, where Brazil defeated Germany in soccer on Saturday and pieced together a widely hailed opening ceremony despite the tight budget.
Rio won the right to host the Games in 2009, when the economy was booming and millions were pushing into the middle class.
“We weren’t sure we were going to have that kind of success coming in”, said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun, noting the track and swimming teams had plenty of first-time Olympians.
But Blackmun was thrilled by the results, and he wasn’t the only one leaving Rio happy. An impeachment vote in coming days could lead to the permanent ouster of suspended President Dilma Rousseff.
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Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
