The Rio Olympics ended on Sunday with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, ushering in the official handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo.
The colourful ceremony, lasting almost three hours, celebrated Brazil’s arts and was held in a wet Maracana Stadium.
Among the highlights were Tokyo’s impressive showcase and a vibrant carnival parade.
“These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city,” Thomas Bach, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, said.
“Over the last 16 days, a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life.”
Bach officially closed the Games of the 31st Olympiad after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team.
One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared dressed as computer game character Super Mario.
He rose out of a huge green pipe in the stadium.
The ceremony, watched by billions around the world, featured the parade of athletes and a dramatic extinguishing of the Olympic flame.
The U.S. topped the medals table with a total haul of 121 medals, comprising 46 gold, 37 silver and 38 bronze.
Great Britain, who finished the Games with 67 medals, were second as they recorded their highest tally at an overseas Olympics, made up of 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze.
China was in third place with 26 gold, 18 silver and 26 bronze for a total of 70 medals.
Russia, in spite of all the controversy about their doping scandal which led their contingent being reduced, were fourth with 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze to total 56 medals.
In fifth place were Germany with a total of 42 medals, comprising 17 gold, 10 silver and 15 bronze.
Japan was sixth with 41 medals, comprising 12 gold, 8 silver and 21 bronze, while France was seventh with 10 gold, …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
