'WE DID IT'
Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the president of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, is in a celebratory mood after overseeing a magical Games here in Rio.
"The best place in the world is here. It is now," he tells the crowd. "It was seven years of a lot of struggle and work, but it was worth it. Every minute. We always said that Rio was ready, and we can now declare it. We did it: we delivered a spectacular Games!"
And it's hard to argue with any of that. Well played, Rio 2016.
(Photo: Getty Images)
SEE YOU IN TOKYO!
A cityscape of Tokyo appears inside the Maracana, featuring sights including Mount Fuji, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge.
The performers line up and bow to end their performance, before legendary Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima enters the scene. He won gold medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events at both the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. On Kitajima's cue, red and silver fireworks are set off for a spectacular grand finale. Bravo.
GOOD HAIR DAY
You get the feeling there will be a few people around the world heading to the hairdresser tomorrow and requesting an extremely low-slung side fringe. That's how we'd describe the haircut currently being sported by each of the Japanese (female) performers. You'd have to be very cool to even think about styling your hair like that. It definitely works though. It's like the haircut of the future.
SUPER MA-RIO 2016
Japan go big! Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has just popped up on stage disguised as... Super Mario? Incredible.
(Photo: Getty Images)
'ARIGATO'
The team from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have just under 12 minutes to showcase the delights of their city. It begins with the red circle of the Japanese flag forming in the middle of the stage, flanked by beguiling female figures who appear to be hovering.
But Tokyo's first message is one of gratitude. On a screen, Japanese children stand in formation to spell out the word 'Arigato'. They are giving thanks for the support received after the earthquakes of 2011, for the opportunity to host the Olympic Games in 2020 and - finally - for the wonderful Olympic Games in Rio.
(Photo: Getty Images)
THE BIG HANDOVER
The Greek flag goes up and the Olympic flag comes down. It's taken by Eduardo Paes, the mayor of Rio, who hands it to IOC president Thomas Bach. This is the moment where the governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, takes over. She is given the flag by Bach, and it's time for our first taste of Tokyo 2020...
(Photo: Getty Images)
WHAT’S THAT SONG?
‘Jack Soul Brasileiro’ by Lenine
To thank the Rio 2016 volunteers for their dedication and effort, the directors of the opening ceremony called on singer-songwriter Lenine. For this Olympic event, he has prepared an exclusive version of one of his greatest hits, ‘Jack Soul Brazileiro’.
IT WAS ALL YELLOW
The Rio 2016 volunteers have provided a helping hand and a smiling face to visitors from around the world in the last 16 days. Now they're getting a little love back.
The singer Lenine croons them a song, while the crowd give them a huge round of applause. Those jolly yellow costumes you may have frequently spotted while watching Rio 2016 are the volunteer uniforms. Maybe not the kind of thing you'd wear on your wedding day, but they're certainly full of Brazilian flair.
(Photo: Getty Images)
WHAT'S THAT SONG?
‘Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5’ composed by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
While still alive, Heitor Villa-Lobos was considered one of the greatest classical composer of the Americas. The prolific auteur wrote around 1,000 works, and his importance lies in his dedication to Brazilian concepts and forms. Through Villa-Lobos, Brazilian music spread to other countries, reaching global audiences and universal adoration.
THE FINAL MEDALS
You probably don't remember this, but during the first edition of the Olympic Games, in 1896, all the medals were handed out on the last day. Nowadays it's just the men's marathon medallists who have that honour. Here come Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge (gold), Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa (silver) and the USA's Galen Rupp (bronze) to get their gongs.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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