Aiming For Gold

Closing ceremony: Rio passes Olympic flag to Tokyo (and Super Mario)

By Tom McGowan, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 2:46 AM EDT, Mon August 22, 2016
People wave flags from Brazil, the United States and Colombia during the Olympics closing ceremony at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, August 21.
People wave flags from Brazil, the United States and Colombia during the Olympics closing ceremony at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, August 21.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Samba dancers perform in the "Cidade Maravilhosa" segment of the ceremony.
Samba dancers perform in the "Cidade Maravilhosa" segment of the ceremony.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Fireworks explode over the stadium.
Fireworks explode over the stadium.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Members of the Australian delegation take a selfie.
Members of the Australian delegation take a selfie.
Brendan Moran/Sportsfile/Getty Images
The cauldron that held the Olympic flame is seen after the flame was extinguished.
The cauldron that held the Olympic flame is seen after the flame was extinguished.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images
Athletes cast shadows as they wave flags.
Athletes cast shadows as they wave flags.
David Goldman/AP
Dancers perform during the ceremony.
Dancers perform during the ceremony.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Singer Mariene de Castro performs in front of the Olympic Cauldron before the flame was extinguished.
Singer Mariene de Castro performs in front of the Olympic Cauldron before the flame was extinguished.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
The Olympic flag is lowered.
The Olympic flag is lowered.
LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives on stage. Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives on stage. Tokyo will host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images
The words "thank you" are projected in Portuguese and Japanese.
The words "thank you" are projected in Portuguese and Japanese.
GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images
A dancer is seen up close during the ceremony.
A dancer is seen up close during the ceremony.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Brazilian singer Lenine performs during the "Recognition of the Volunteers."
Brazilian singer Lenine performs during the "Recognition of the Volunteers."
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
From left, men's marathon silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia, gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and bronze medalist Galen Rupp of the United States are seen on a giant screen as they stand on the podium during the closing ceremony.
From left, men's marathon silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia, gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and bronze medalist Galen Rupp of the United States are seen on a giant screen as they stand on the podium during the closing ceremony.
GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images
Athletes parade during the ceremony.
Athletes parade during the ceremony.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Dancers perform the "Bringing Clay to Life" routine.
Dancers perform the "Bringing Clay to Life" routine.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Dancers perform the "Lace Making" routine.
Dancers perform the "Lace Making" routine.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
Athletes walk through the stadium.
Athletes walk through the stadium.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Jackie Briggs from the United States wears Olympic ring sunglasses.
Jackie Briggs from the United States wears Olympic ring sunglasses.
David Goldman/AP
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony.
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
Singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and electronic music artist Kygo perform the song "Carry Me."
Singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and electronic music artist Kygo perform the song "Carry Me."
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Members of Team Great Britain hold up their illuminated shoes.
Members of Team Great Britain hold up their illuminated shoes.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Athletes wearing illuminated shoes march during the closing ceremony.
Athletes wearing illuminated shoes march during the closing ceremony.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Athletes shield themselves from the rain.
Athletes shield themselves from the rain.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images South America/Getty Images
Dancers perform during the event.
Dancers perform during the event.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
Athletes wear plastic raincoats.
Athletes wear plastic raincoats.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Athletes from Japan march during the "Heroes of the Games" segment.
Athletes from Japan march during the "Heroes of the Games" segment.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Team Great Britain celebrates during the "Heroes of the Games" segment.
Team Great Britain celebrates during the "Heroes of the Games" segment.
David Ramos/Getty Images
Athletes enter the stadium.
Athletes enter the stadium.
Charlie Riedel/AP
Spectators watch the closing ceremony.
Spectators watch the closing ceremony.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
US gymnast Simone Biles holds the American flag.
US gymnast Simone Biles holds the American flag.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Dancers perform in the "Olympic Wings" segment of the event.
Dancers perform in the "Olympic Wings" segment of the event.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
A dancer performs during the closing ceremony.
A dancer performs during the closing ceremony.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
A spectator takes pictures of the fireworks.
A spectator takes pictures of the fireworks.
JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images
Children sing the national anthem of Brazil.
Children sing the national anthem of Brazil.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The International Olympic Committee flag waves in the stadium.
The International Olympic Committee flag waves in the stadium.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Rio Olympics: Closing ceremony

Story highlights

Rio 2016 Olympics come to a close

Brazilian city "delivered history"

IOC president: "Unique legacy"

Tokyo hosts next Games in 2020

Rio de Janeiro CNN  — 

It was a wet, windy and wild farewell to the 2016 Olympic Games as Rio de Janeiro bowed out in a storm of samba and rain inside the Maracana Stadium.

The night began with a power cut and ended with an explosion of color and carnival, featuring a supermodel, a giant parrot and hundreds of dancers dressed as plants – plus Japan’s prime minister in an unexpected outfit.

“I am the happiest man alive,” Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 organizing committee, declared during Sunday’s closing ceremony.

Recap the final day of action at Rio 2016

“We are unique,” he added. “Rio has delivered history … good luck to Tokyo 2020.”

Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Olympic rings were all honored during a lighthearted farewell, with Brazil’s cultural and artistic heritage also celebrated.

There was also a focus on “saudade” – a word loosely translated as nostalgia that is thought to only exist in the Portuguese language.

Olympic Games

  • Rio 2016: Full coverage
  • Abe/Mario joins closing ceremony
  • Kenya takes marathon double
  • Ethiopian in finish line protest
  • What to expect in Japan in 2020
  • Did China underperform in Rio?

    • “These Olympic Games are leaving a unique legacy for generations to come,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said.

    “History will talk about the ‘Rio de Janeiro before’ and the ‘much better Rio de Janeiro after the Games.’

    Read: US wins final gold, tops medal table

    “I declare Games of 2016 closed,” he added. “I call upon the youth of the world to assemble in Tokyo, Japan for the 32nd Olympiad – bye, bye Rio!”

    The period of the evening dedicated to Tokyo’s hosting of the next Games threatened to steal the show, with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arriving center stage disguised as iconic video game character Super Mario.

    Above all, it was a night for Rio to celebrate. Despite concerns surrounding security and Zika, the Games had gone off largely without a hitch.

    Read: Runner fears for life after finish-line protest

    The festival atmosphere was only dampened by the presence of yet more empty seats, with the stadium appearing far below its 70,000-plus capacity.

    Despite the rain, Nuzman’s mood could not be soured.

    “For you already know this much: the best place in the world is here,” he enthused. “It is now.

    “Let’s celebrate together this great victory, this triumph of sport, of youth.

    “Throughout our bid to host the 31st Olympiad, we always said that Rio was ready, and we can now declare it.

    “We did it: we delivered spectacular Games.

    “We did it. We made it.”