Games ended: Olympic flame in Tokyo has gone out

The most unusual Olympic Games came to an end on Sunday with a happy celebration and a successful mix of modern elements and tradition. In a nearly empty National Stadium in Tokyo, as was the case during the opening ceremony and all competitions, IOC President Thomas Bach spoke of the “Olympics of hope, solidarity and peace” at 22.03:XNUMX p.m. local time and four minutes later declared the XXXII. The Olympic Games are over with the official final formula. A little later the Olympic flame also went out.

The planned spectacular presentation of the upcoming host Paris turned out differently than planned. The organizers actually wanted to hoist a gigantic flag almost the size of a football field and measuring 2024 by 90 meters on the Eiffel Tower in 60. But due to strong winds in Paris, this part of the ceremony was canceled - and was replaced by recordings of a rehearsal from the beginning of June. “Au revoir à Paris,” Bach said at the end of his speech. Few top athletes and peaceful protests In Tokyo, no spectators were allowed in the sports facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic. The athletes had to leave no later than 48 hours after their last competition, meaning that many Olympic stars were no longer present at the closing ceremony.

A spectacular graduation ceremony in Tokyo. © ANSA / ZSOLT CZEGLEDI

As with the opening ceremony, the ceremony was accompanied by a small, peaceful protest. Around 50 activists had gathered around the national stadium. “No Olympics” read one poster. The fact that the Olympics were allowed to take place in the metropolis of Tokyo with participants from all over the world despite the sharp increase in the number of cases during the pandemic was viewed very critically in Japan. On Sunday, 4066 new infections were reported in Tokyo, more than 4000 for the fifth day in a row. On the day of the opening ceremony there were 1359.

In terms of atmosphere, the final act still seemed more exuberant and positive than the overture a good two weeks ago, which was received by most viewers as rather unspectacular and without flair. When the French national anthem Marseillaise played and images were played from the rooftops over Paris, the picturesque competition venues at the Eiffel Tower or the Palace of Versailles, Tokyo was already (almost) history and the metropolis on the Seine was the Olympic summer future.

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Games ended: Olympic flame in Tokyo has gone out

At 22.07:XNUMX p.m. local time, IOC President Thomas Bach declared the Olympic Games in Tokyo over. The next host Paris presents itself - involuntarily - differently than planned.