Colourful closing ceremony ends dour Tokyo Olympics

There was no glamour as far as the public participation was concerned as the Olympic Games ended without entertaining the public for the first time.

Nevertheless, hosts Japan have put all the ingredients necessary to be one of the most colourful closing ceremonies. But there were only a few invites, participants and media to catch the live action.

But billions of fans worldwide caught the action through the live television coverage.

Japan, hosting the Olympic Games after 1964, has put everything necessary to call it a truly Asian, blended with Japanese flavour.

Full credit must go to Japan for not just bringing the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza to Asia once more but the herculean efforts it did to host the event under the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the postponement, many doubted whether they could host it this time too as a new trend of COVID-19 virus unleashed two months before the scheduled start.

Even the sports-loving Japanese public too was given a scare as they openly showed their anger towards hosting the Olympic Games.

But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organising committee headed by the Japan Olympic Committee were adamant that the Games should go on, setting guidelines to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even the accredited Olympic family, including competitors, coaches, officials, and even media had to undergo daily PCR tests during their stay in Japan to ensure the safety of the Games.

Everybody extended their fullest support to the organising committee and they were able to reduce the impact of the pandemic. Hence, full credit should go to everybody who contributed to having a safe Olympic Games.

Despite having come to Tokyo, the competitors had not got the opportunity to see or experience Tokyo for themselves due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This segment, meant to give the athletes the impression that they have wandered into a real park in Tokyo, hopes to give the athletes a taste of Tokyo.

The first of tonight’s formalities was the playing of the Greek anthem and raising the flag of the Hellenic Republic of Greece – marking the link between the ancient Games and modern Games.

Two victory ceremonies – for the Women’s and Men’s marathons were also part of the Closing Ceremony.

But by holding the Olympic Games, new standards have now been laid to host all other global and regional sporting events, including the next IAAF World Championship in the USA, Asian Games in China, and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year.

The Olympic flag was lowered to the strains of the Olympic anthem. It was then handed from the Mayor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, to IOC President Thomas Bach, who then passed it over to the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, signifying the handover to Paris in 2024. Tears came to everybody’s eyes, as they felt the sorrow of leaving after 16 days of completion.

“See you in Paris 2024,” were the last words they exchanged, planning to meet at the next Olympic Games in France in three years.