It's over............
http://news.sky.com/story/rio-closing-c ... o-10547278
Rio Closing Ceremony Passes Olympic Baton To Tokyo
After a Games beset by organisational problems and half-empty venues, South America's first Olympics goes out with a bang.
09:45, UK,
Monday 22 August 2016
The Olympic closing ceremony in Rio, seen through a fisheye lens
Closing ceremony
Brazil bid farewell to the world's biggest sporting event in spectacular fashion
Closing ceremony
Closing ceremony
A boy from Mangueira favela watches fireworks over Maracana Stadium during the 2016 Olympics closing ceremony in Rio
Great Britain's flag bearer Kate Richardson-Walsh during the Rio Olympic Games 2016 Closing Ceremony
2016 Rio Olympics - Closing ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 21/08/2016. The shoes of athletes taking part in the closing ceremony are seen. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Colourful costumes at the Rio Olympics closing ceremony
Flags emblazoned with Tokyo 2020 waved at the Rio Games closing ceremony
Shinzo Abe - dressed as Nintendo video game hero Mario - at the Rio closing ceremony
Shinzo Abe dressed as video game character Mario at the Olympic closing ceremony
Part of the Rio closing ceremony was devoted to 2020 Olympic hosts Tokyo
A sequence of the Rio Closing ceremony handing over to Tokyo, host of the 2020 Games
Closing ceremony
Closing ceremony
Closing ceremony
Brazil bid farewell to the world's biggest sporting event
Closing ceremony
The Maracana is enveloped in red fireworks during the Olympic closing ceremony
2016 Rio Olympics - Closing ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 21/08/2016. Performers take part in the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics - Closing ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 21/08/2016. Performers take part in the closing ceremony. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Water pours down on singer Mariene de Castro at the Rio Olympics closing ceremony
The Olympic flag is handed over from Rio at the closing ceremony
One of the colourful performers at the Rio closing ceremony
The Olympic closing ceremony in Rio, seen through a fisheye lens
Closing ceremony
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Rio has handed hosting duties for the Olympic Games to Tokyo in a colourful and rain-lashed closing ceremony.
Brazil brought down the curtain on the first Olympics to be held in South America - 16 days that saw spectacular sporting achievement but also disappointing crowds, crime and criticism for the organisers.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach hailed the Games as a "marvellous Olympic Games in the 'marvellous city'" before the baton was handed to 2020 hosts Tokyo.
A taster sequence for the Japan Games featured bullet trains and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe emerging from a green pipe dressed as Nintendo video game hero Mario.
A boy from Mangueira favela watches fireworks over Maracana Stadium during the 2016 Olympics closing ceremony in Rio
Video: Rio Olympics Close With A Bang
:: Team GB Celebrate Making History In Rio
Gold medal-winning women's hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh was given the honour of leading out Team GB in the Maracana as British competitors celebrated their historic second place finish in the medals table.
Many of the athletes wore ponchos as they entered the stadium taking selfies and dancing to music from Brazilian DJs.
Shinzo Abe - dressed as Nintendo video game hero Mario - at the Rio closing ceremony
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe emerged from a green pipe dressed as Mario
Gold medal winners among the flag bearers from other nations included 4ft 9in gymnastics superstar Simone Biles from the US, and South African runner Caster Semenya.
Britain's athletes wore shoes with soles that lit up red, white and blue.
Oiled-up Tongan taekwondo competitor Pita Taufatofua also danced on stage in a grass skirt, reprising a moment that captured many people's attention when he carried the flag during the opening ceremony.
:: China Upbeat On Rio Olympics Despite Lower Medal Count
The spectacular ceremony in Rio lasted three hours
The ceremony brought to a close just over two weeks of competition
However, like so many events in Rio, the closing ceremony took place in front of a half-empty stadium.
The stormy weather also took its toll, with helicopters that were supposed to provide spectacular aerial footage grounded for safety reasons.
High winds and torrential rain caused power cuts in Rio, including near the stadium shortly before the start of the ceremony when power lines came down.
It was a rather wet affair however, with ponchos mandatory
It was a rather wet affair however, with ponchos coming in very handy
Some athletes cut short their participation. Team GB distance runner Eilish McColgan tweeted: "So we lasted 10 minutes and are on the first bus home! Should of stayed and watched it on the TV!!"
The ceremony featured original footage of Alberto Santos Dumont, the man that Brazilians recognise as the inventor of the aeroplane.
The theme, "Brazilians can do with their bare hands," was a nod to the emerging economy of the world's fifth most populous nation.
Athletes paraded through the Maracana stadium
GB athletes joined in the parade around the Maracana stadium
Dressed in bright feathers, dozens of dancers formed in the shape of the arches of Lapa, a popular area of Rio akin to Roman ruins, then morphed to make the shape of iconic Sugarloaf Mountain before quickly changing again, this time to the official 2016 symbol.
Fans leaving the stadium said they had not let the bad weather dampen their spirits.
Holly Graham, from the US, said: "Amazing, fantastic, beautiful... absolutely gorgeous. Couldn't be happier."
Manuel David Korn, from Sao Paulo, said: "The cold and the rain got in the way a little bit, but it was beautiful - my daughter loved it."