News / News Bulletin

Rio 2016 Olympics end with closing ceremony

Monday, 22 August 2016 8:31 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 22 August 2016 8:33 AM ]

Fireworks explode at the end of the closing ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 21, 2016. ©AFP

The 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro have officially come to an end after IOC President Thomas Bach announced the end of the event in a colorful closing ceremony held at the city’s iconic Maracana stadium.

Just like the opening ceremony almost two weeks ago, the Sunday night celebration also began with fireworks.

The 205 delegations of athletes as well as the Refugee Olympic team and a group of independent Olympians paraded through the stadium.

More than 10,000 athletes took part in Rio 2016. Medals were won by competitors from a record 87 different nations. Next stop for the games will be Tokyo in 4 years’ time.

The governor of the Japanese capital was present at the event and took the games’ flag from the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (L) gives the Olympic flag to Tokyo's governor Yuriko Koike during the closing ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 21, 2016. ©AFP

The ceremony also had a surprise for the spectators and that was when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emerged in the middle of the field in the clothing of one of his country’s famous video game characters.