2020 Tokyo Olympics Closing Ceremony: Games wrap up in Japan as world looks to Paris in summer of 2024
The Tokyo Games are officially over, putting a spotlight on the next Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics ended on Sunday with the closing ceremony, putting all eyes on Paris in 2024. France will host the Summer Olympics for the third time -- but the first since 1924.
IOC president Thomas Bach, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo took the Olympic Stadium podium midway through the event for the Olympic handover ceremony. Koike passed the Olympic flag to Bach, who then gave it to Hidalgo, identifying Paris as the Games' new host.
Before Bach officially closed the Tokyo 2020 Games, he thanked the athletes, volunteers and the host country of Japan for their cooperation.
"The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are the Olympic games of hope, solidarity and peace," Bach said.
Victory ceremonies for the men's and women's marathon events also took place during the Closing Ceremony. American Molly Seidel, who was running only her third ever marathon in these Games, won bronze and accepted her medal during the event.
Here's a look at the top of the medal table. Click here for complete medal results from the 2020 Tokyo Games.
COUNTRY | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTALS | |
United States | 39 | 41 | 33 | 113 | |
China | 38 | 32 | 18 | 88 | |
Japan | 27 | 14 | 17 | 58 | |
Great Britain | 22 | 21 | 22 | 65 | |
Russian Olympic Committee | 20 | 28 | 23 | 71 |
One of the Closing Ceremony's most memorable moments came when video of a saxophone-playing astronaut appeared on the screen during the French national anthem.
After the Parade of Flags and Parade of Athletes, a visual-effects performance -- including the projection of giant Olympic rings -- and fireworks took place. A performance from Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra -- one including dancing, biking and skateboarding -- came right after.
Later in the ceremony, a series of Japanese folk-dance videos came onto the broadcast. Eisa, a dance originating in Okinawa, and the traditional dance of the Ainu indigenous people were included.
Fireworks light the sky in Tokyo for the second time during the 2020 Games' Closing Ceremony.
Next up in Tokyo: the 2020 Paralympics, taking place Aug. 24 – Sept. 5.
The Olympic flame has just been extinguished.
Bach officially declares the 2020 Tokyo Olympics closed.
Bach: "The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are the Olympic games of hope, solidarity and peace."
IOC president Thomas Bach is now at the podium.
Video of a person playing saxophone in space just came onto the screen during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics' Closing Ceremony. Interesting, to say the least.
IOC president Thomas Bach, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo have taken the stage to mark the end of the Tokyo Games and the anticipation of the Paris 2024 Games. This is known as the Olympic handover ceremony.
Video of the Ainu traditional dance is now playing on the broadcast. The Ainu are an indigenous people who primarily live in Hokkaidō in northern Japan.
The volunteers get a shoutout here in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Closing Ceremony. Their job was tougher this year than most, as they dealt with the added factor of COVID-19 protocols.