The Rio Olympics ended with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, and 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.
Among the highlights were Tokyo’s impressive showcase and a vibrant carnival parade.
“These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city,” said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach. “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.
In the handoff ceremony, Rio passed the Olympic torch to Tokyo, host of the 2020 Summer Games. Tokyo’s turn on the stage included an inventive light show and an appearance by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, channeling video game character Super Mario. Its technological dazzle, abstract modernism and cheeky humor reflected how different those Olympics are likely to be compared with the past 16 days in Rio.
What can we expect in Tokyo’s Olympic games in 2020? In the showcase video you can see Doraemon, Hello Kitty and Pacman making an appearance. Check out the entire promotional video.
The ceremony, watched by billions around the world, featured the parade of athletes and a dramatic extinguishing of the Olympic flame.
Source and Images: citifmonline and Jpop Asia
0 Comments