Curtain falls on unique Tokyo 2020

By Shehan Daniel at the Olympic Stadium, Tokyo  

A games marked by restrictions imposed due to Covid-19 and apathy among the Japanese public was brought to a close at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium yesterday, with the hosts of the next Olympics in Paris saying that it is “inviting the world to the very heart of Paris.”  

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo received the Olympic flag in Tokyo, as thousands gathered near the Eiffel Tower to celebrate the handover, with a patrol of the Patrouille de France (“Patrol of France”) releasing blue, white and red smoke to symbolize the French flag.  

Paris will host the Olympics for the first time in a century, since 1924, and organisers pledged to “take sport out of its traditional spaces” and “connect with new audiences in new ways” when the games return in three years.  

The closing ceremony itself tapped into urban and traditional Japan, with an infusion of colour and vibrance, along with a journey to corners of the host nation, showcasing the culture that is not as widely known.  

Some elements were made for television, such as the beads of light, meant to appear as if emanating from the cellphone flashlights of the athletes gathered, connecting to form the Olympic Rings, visible only to those watching at home.  

With athletes and others who travelled to Tokyo unable to fully experience the city due to the restrictions put in place, a scene at an imaginary park in Tokyo showcased a glimpse of life in everyday Tokyo.  

A more traditional side of Japan was showcased through four dances -- the Ainu the Ryukyu Eisa, the Nishimonai Bon Odori, and the Gujo Odori -- all displayed on the giant LED screens at the Stadium, before ending on the field with the Tokyo Ondo, a more modern dance.  

President of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 organising committee Tony Estanguet, in a statement, lauded the efforts of Tokyo, saying that his city would look to contribute to the evolution of the games.  

“Few host cities have ever done so much to host the Games. It has been so good and so important to feel the energy of the Olympic sphere again,” he said.  

“The main takeaway for me from these Games is that sport and emotions prevail. In the next three years we will focus on sharing these emotions with as many people as possible.”  

With concerns that the games could become a super-spreader for Covid-19, spectators were barred from attending venues and athletes were allowed into the athlete’s village only five days before their respective events. 

 
They also had to leave the village two days after the completion of their events, with journalists being restricted in their movement for the first 14 days upon arrival and barred from using public transport.