Olympics ends with lavish ceremony
An enthralled crowd braved strong winds and rain to pack Rio’s Maracana Stadium for music ranging from the lyrical Brazilian song “Carinhoso” to folksy forró and a display of dancers skilfully portraying the image of the Christ the Redeemer statue, according to Financial Times.
The show signalled the return of some of the traditional chutzpah of a country that has been battered by twin economic and political crises, although any feel-good effect may fade once reality comes roaring back this week, analysts say.
While USA swept the medal count with 46 gold, the standout performance came from Great Britain, which achieved its best results in more than a century.
It triumphed over China by ending the Rio games second in the overall medal table with 27 gold, one ahead of the Asian giant.
According to Skysports, thousands of fans braved strong winds and rain to watch the carnival-inspired event to conclude the 16-day sporting showpiece that featured 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team.
International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said, “These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city.
“Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life.”
The governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, accepted the flag from Bach and Rio mayor Eduardo Paes, signaling the end of the 2016 games and the transition.
Sunday’s party belonged to Brazil though, a final send-off designed to be more low-key than the opening, which focused heavily on Rio.
The ceremony opened with original footage of Alberto Santos Dumont, the man Brazilians recognise as the inventor of the aeroplane. Dressed in colourful feathers, dancers formed in the shape of the arches of Lapa, a popular area of Rio akin to Roman ruins, then morphed into the iconic Sugarloaf before changing again to the official 2016 symbol.
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