THE RIO OLYMPICS ended in a blaze of colour with an exuberant closing ceremony on Sunday as Tokyo took up the baton promising to host the best Games yet in 2020, as Ireland’s Gary O’Donovan served as the flag bearer having won a silver medal alongside his brother in the men’s lightweight double sculls rowing event.
After a rollercoaster fortnight which mixed off-field hitches with compelling sporting drama, Olympics chief Thomas Bach hailed a “marvellous” Games in the Brazilian city.
“These were marvellous Olympic Games in the marvellous city!” said Bach, as he declared the Games closed and the Olympic flame was extinguished.
“These Olympic Games are leaving a unique legacy for generations to come. History will talk about a Rio de Janeiro before and a much better Rio de Janeiro after the Olympic Games.”
Just a few hours earlier, the United States basketball squad won the last gold of the Games, boosting their country’s place on top of the medals table.
At the closing ceremony, thousands of fans and athletes donned ponchos on a wet and windy night for a colourful festival of Brazilian culture and music with bursts of spectacular fireworks.
Smiling and waving athletes danced into the Maracana stadium taking selfies as Rio’s 16-day Summer Games closed ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a comical cameo as Nintendo video game character Super Mario as Tokyo set out its stall for 2020.
“The Japanese government will… work hard so it will be the best Olympics ever,” Abe said as he met Japanese medal-winners earlier.
Security scares and logistical problems were a feature of South America’s first Olympics, held against the backdrop of Brazil’s political and economic crisis.
Swathes of empty seats caused disquiet but the Games also witnessed the last hurrahs of both Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, who both lived up to their billing.
Bolt sealed the sprint “triple triple” in his final Games, reaching a record-equalling nine gold medals with his third consecutive 100m, 200m and 4x100m sweep.
Swim legend Phelps took his unmatched career haul to 23 gold medals with another five in Rio — plus a silver, after his loss to former childhood fan Joseph Schooling.
Brazil came late to the party but the country celebrated long and loud when Neymar won a gold-medal penalty shoot-out against Germany to erase memories of their 7-1 World Cup semi-final humiliation in 2014.
- ‘Sporting superpowers’ -
On a sodden final day, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, 31, shone with his seventh win in eight marathons, timing 2hr 8min 44sec to win by more than a minute.
The USA’s basketball ‘Dream Team’ of NBA stars claimed the 306th and final gold of the Games with a crushing 96-66 win over Serbia.
With the basketball win, America matched its tally of 46 golds from London four years ago to lead the medals table from Britain, who sealed surprise second place ahead of China with 27 golds to 26.
“We are one of those sporting superpowers now,” beamed UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl.
For China, the world’s most populous country, it was the worst Olympics for 20 years — especially sobering after topping the standings at Beijing 2008 and finishing second in 2012.
China brought to Rio a youthful team with an average age of 24, the lowest of the last three Olympics.
This points to a rebuilding phase ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the capital of China’s war-time rival and former colonial power which still evokes bitter resentment among many Chinese.
A string of below-par performances saw India win just two medals, fewer than the six clinched during their best-ever performance in London four years earlier.
There was also controversy as Mongolia’s Chagnaadorj Usukhbayar became the sixth weightlifter in Rio to fail a drugs test.
And police seized passports, phones and computers in a raid on the Irish Olympic office, following the arrest of Irish International Olympic Committee member Patrick Hickey over an alleged black market tickets scam.
Brazil added a final flourish as they beat Italy 3-0 to win the men’s title in volleyball, one of the country’s most popular sports.
French fighter Tony Yoka won a split-decision against Britain’s Joe Joyce to take the super-heavyweight title in boxing.
Switzerland’s world champion Nino Schurter, third in Beijing and second in London, competed his ascent of the podium by winning the men’s mountain bike competition.
And there were furious scenes when a Mongolian coach stripped down to his underwear to protest a decision against wrestler Ganzorig Mandakhnaran.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
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At his age Ken probably thought he might not make it through to the cruicible again ,let him enjoy it ,he’s well aware that he’s not going win it ,it’s about enjoyment for his at this stage .I don’t understand why your being critical of him only beating poomjaeng 10-5, a player who knocked out Stephen Maguire in the first round last year
200/1 on Ken to win…get in there ;)
530/1 on betfair. Get your value!!!
I think the David he is referring to is David Morris ,who didn’t even qualify and is ranked 89 in the world .So yeah he’s clearly nowhere near as good as him .
Yeah I guessed that Patrick.David Morris was a excellent amateur player but unfortunately like so many before him,he hasn’t made the transition to the pro game.Im not saying he won’t,hes still young and as I said,hes an excellent player.But to compare him to Ken is laughable.His best days may be nearly over but Im sure he’ll give whoever he plays a tough game.Best of luck Ken and the same to Fergal who plays today.
I bet hes praying for a lucky 1st round draw, otherwise its curtains for another year! Hes not anywhere even close to David, who can actually compete in the first couple of rounds once he doesn’t draw one of the top guys. Doherty still gave 5 frames away to a nobody in his previous match.
I’d love to see an Irish player do well again but Doherty’s days are long over!
Who’s David???
Such an Irish player doesn’t exist I’m afraid. You can’t go through twenty years of clubs closing all over the country and expect that the standard will remain the same.
Ireland’s next big star (as he has been for ten years) was beaten in the first qualifying round. Not Ken’s fault, and he deserves only huge credit for getting there.
A nicer drawer than he has received on his last few trips to The Crucible would be nice, granted!