Closing ceremony marks end of 'most challenging' games to date
Tokyo 2020 officially ended on Sunday, as the Japanese hosts wrapped up the Games with the usual music and spectacle before handing off the Olympic flag to France for the Paris 2024 Games
The Tokyo 2020 Games were declared closed on Sunday by IOC chief Thomas Bach, who said it had been the "most challenging Olympic journey" after a year's pandemic delay and threats of cancellation.
This marked a low-key end to an extraordinary Olympics that have mostly played out in empty venues with only athletes, team officials and media present.
Fewer athletes were at the Closing Ceremony than in prior years. For pandemic-related reasons, athletes had to leave Japan 48 hours after their last event.
Athletes lived in strict biosecure conditions with social distancing at the Olympic Village and instructions to wear masks unless eating, sleeping, training or competing.
When the Olympic cauldron was extinguished, the organizers quickly moved to a highlight reel for the Paralympics, which begin on Aug. 24, and some fireworks and as usual, there was a segment devoted to the next Olympics host. As the Olympic flag was passed to Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo for the 2024 Games, live footage showed cheering crowds in the French capital.
