Despite torrential rains, and heavy hearts, the 2016 Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro blissfully came to an end last evening with a spectacular closing ceremony. The games, which was for the first time ever held in South America was pulled off with aplomb notwithstanding the fact that there were some shortcomings, including that notable green diving pool shrouded in mystery. However, the upbeat tempo of Carnival gave athletes the true sense of Brazilian hospitality and culture last night as the closing ceremony kicked off with a scene of revelers dressed in the guise of macaws flying over some of Rio’s most famous sites before coalescing into the symbolic five rings of the Olympics.
Drenched to the bone in rain, athletes marched into the arena, some in rain coats, some baring the downpour, but all jubilant of the fact that they had the opportunity to partake in such a historical game.
They were all then entertained with depictions of the lace makers dressed in white, living red clay figurines and the depictions of the ancient works of art found in the Serra da Capivara National Park.
At the end, the city officially handed over the Olympic Flag to Tokyo, the location of the 2020 Summer Games. What captivated fans was the arrival of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, dressed as the popular Nintendo character, Mario coming up from a warp pipe, symbolic of the connection between Rio and Tokyo. It is our hope, that come 4 years from now, great things will be expected!
