NPR News

The Best Photos From The Closing Ceremony Of The Tokyo Olympics

By Deepa Shivaram,

Marco Storel

Published August 8, 2021 at 9:01 AM EDT

Fireworks are set off to end the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, hit with a one-year delay due to the pandemic, concluded Sunday with a closing ceremony celebration that was both joyful and contemplative.

Athletes, masked and some donning the medals they won, filled the floor of the mostly empty Olympic Stadium, where they were met with a light show and musical performances from groups like the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. The number of athletes present was smaller than usual, given the pandemic-related requirement that athletes return home shortly after their final competition.

At the end of the ceremony, the Olympic torch will go out and Tokyo will hand over its hosting duties to Paris, the next city to hold the Summer Olympics, in 2024.Because of the delay in mounting the Tokyo Games, it'll be just six months before we start the Beijing Winter Olympics in February of 2022.

Flagbearers take part in the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The Japanese flag is brought into the stadium.

Silver medalist Brigid Kosgei, left, of Team Kenya, gold medalist Peres Jepchirchir, center, of Team Kenya and bronze medalist Molly Seidel of Team United States pose during the medal ceremony for the Women's Marathon Final during the Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

A general view shows dancers and singer performing.

Athletes carrying nations' flags walk past the Olympic flame as they enter the stadium during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Performers sing the Japanese national anthem as the Olympic flag and Japan's flag are raised.

Dancers perform during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium. — Dancers perform during the closing ceremony.

The Japan and Olympic flags fly as country flags are carried in during the closing ceremony.

Japanese dancer Aoi Yamada performs a solo piece.

The Japanese dancer Aoi Yamada performs.

A drummer performs Japan's Taiko drumming.

Skateboarders perform during the Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Members of the Polish delegation take pictures.

Bystanders take images of fireworks lighting up the sky over the Olympic Stadium.

The Olympic flag is folded during the closing ceremony.

The Olympic flame is extinguished during the closing ceremony.

French aerial patrol 'Patrouille de France' fly over the fan village of The Trocadero set in front of The Eiffel Tower, in Paris on August 8, 2021 upon the transmission of the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.