RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Rio de Janeiro and the world bid farewell Sunday to the first Olympic Games in South America, a 16-day spectacle that combined numerous highlight reel moments with ugly and even bizarre episodes that sometimes overshadowed the competitions.
Thousands of fans braved strong winds and sporadic rains to watch the closing ceremony in iconic Maracana Stadium, a finale meant to be both one last bash and to take care of some business – namely signal the transition to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.
The final party was expected to be more low-key than the opening, which focused heavily on Rio. The ceremony opened with original footage of Alberto Santos Dumont, the man that Brazilians recognize as the inventor of the airplane. Brazilians also believe he is the first to ever wear a wristwatch, an invention made by a friend so he could see the time in flight.
The theme of the show was “Brazilians can do with their bare hands,” a nod to the emerging economy of the world’s fifth largest nation. Samba legend Martinho da Vila was expected to perform, but also others such northeastern singer Lenine.
The games had many memorable moments, both for Brazilian competitors at home and athletes from around the world.