The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will not be remembered only for the amazing sporting feats that are happening on a daily basis. Along with the medal winners and world records, the competitions have brought many examples of sportsmanship, love and respect for differences. Relive some of these moments in which compassion has reached the highest place on the podium.

The most loved Olympic delegation

The Olympic refugee team received the warmest ovation at the opening ceremony and has continued to do so in every event thus far. The athletes are using the platform of the Games to send messages via journalists to their friends and families who continue to live in conflict regions and have not heard from there in a long time. And the wider message, as IOC president Thomas Bach uts it, is: “This is a signal to the international community that refugees are our fellow human beings and are an enrichment to society.”

Welcomed with open arms: the refugee team at Christ the Redeemer (Photo: Getty Images/Buda Mendes)

The public embraces diversity (part 1)

The DJs at the Beach Volleyball Arena gave an especially warm welcome to Egyptian pair Nada Meawad and Doaa Elghobashy, just 18 and 19 years old. The players attracted the attention of the Brazilian crowd for their discrete uniform which is unusual for the sport, especially in Brazil. But the Brazilian public extended that warm welcome, and even though the pair exited in the first round, they were missed by the fans.

Elghobashy and Meawad received a warm welcome in the Beach Volleyball Arena (Photo: Getty Images/Ezra Shaw)

The public embraces diversity (part 2)

Angolan handball goalkeeper, Teresa Almeida, known by her nickname Bá, may not have the same slender body as other athletes in the sport. But she was not made to feel out of place by Brazilian and international fans alike who appreciated her amazing displays and cheered her to the rafters, proving that there is no Olympic standard when it comes to athletes' bodies. Local fans even sang: "Bá is better than Neymar!"

 Bá, the Angolan handball goalkeeper (Photo: Getty Images/Lars Baron)

Rugby marriage proposal

During the women's rugby final, the biggest ovation did not go to the medallists, but to Brazilians Marjorie Enya and Isadora Cerullo, protagonists of the first public marriage proposal of the Games at Deodoro Stadium. Episodes like this one is why Rio 2016 may be remembered as the most LGBT-friendly Games in history.

Gay black woman from City of God 'favela' becomes Brazil's national hero

The tears of judoka Rafaela Silva as she won Brazil's first gold medal at Rio 2016 were just as moving as the athlete's story. Subjected to horrific online abuse after she went out of London 2012, she almost decided to leave the sport for good. But her victory at Rio 2016 will serve as the greatest redemption for the athlete as well as being a victory for tolerance, inclusion and representation.

Rafaela Silva cries during the national anthem (Photo: Getty Images/ David Ramos)

Grace and gratitude even in defeat

Novak Djokovic of Serbia, the tennis world no.1, suffered a shock first-round elimination by Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. But Djokovic did not hide his gratitude for the support from the crowd and left the court in tears. “I felt as if I were in my own country,” he said.

Djokovic showed he is just as gracious in defeat as in victory (Photo: Getty Images/Clive Brunskill)

Olympian, win or lose

Ethopian swimmer Robel Kiros Habte finished in last place in his heats for the 100m freestyle, but if there were medals given for the amount of applause received, he would have won gold.

Habte was cheered on by fans as if he reached the podium (Photo: Getty Images/Al Bello)

Social equality on the golf course

Brazilian golfer Adilson da Silva was moved to tears as he remembered his difficult beginnings as a caddie in a sport that at the time was considered reserved only for society's elite. On the first day of the competition he had the honour of being the first to tee off in the golf's return to the Olympic Games after 112 years.

Silva could not hold back his tears as he recalled his difficult start in golf (Photo: Rio 2016/Rafael Cavalieri)

The spirit of sportsmanship

Ethiopian runner Etenesh Diro lost her one of her running shoes after being trodden on during the 3000m steeplechase, but carried on running barefoot with the support of the spectators inside the Olympic Stadium. As she crossed the finish line in seventh, the athlete broke down into tears and was comforted by Hyvin Jepkemoi who finished first. Etensh's place in the final was guaranteed because she had been put at an disadvantage by an opponent.

Diro receives medical attention after running barefoot (Photo: Getty Images/Cameron Spencer)

Compassion for rivals

When Great Britain's men defeated Argentina 5-0 in the quarter-finals of the rugby sevens, the South Americans were completely devastated. The British players interrupted their celebrations to console their defeated opponents, eliciting applause from the crowd.

Adversaries on the pitch but united in sport: British players console the Argentines (Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers)

Love is (doing a double pike) in the air

After Zi He earned silver in women's 3m springboard on Sunday (14 August), the Chinese diver received a marriage proposal from her boyfriend and fellow diver Qin Kai as she stepped off the podium. A serious-looking Qin opened a box with a ring inside, took it out and slipped it on Zi's finger, after she had nodded yes. The crowd roared in delight as the couple hugged.

Qin and Zi's big moment goes down well (Photo: Getty Images/Clive Rose)