Rapture and relief as Rio keeps Olympic party rocking until the end

Thomas Bach, the IOC president, spoke at the closing ceremony about how these were a “marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city”. He declared: “Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life.”

The subtext was not that Rio had pulled off the greatest Games – there were too many logistical headaches for that – but that it had come through despite the doubters. This had far more to do with the pride and resilience of Brazilians themselves, though, than it did with the IOC. The big white chiefs from Lausanne merely passed through, basking in the reflected glow. It was the equivalent of a spaceship touching down on Rio’s lawn, staying for three weeks, and then disappearing to deepest Switzerland with a cargo full of cash.

Never an organisation likely to pass up a spot of corporate promotion, the IOC even used a segment of the ceremony to advertise the launch the Olympic channel. A great idea to resonate with the Rio natives, that one. It was on a par with George Michael using the final shindig at London 2012 to hawk his latest single.

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Rapture and relief as Rio keeps Olympic party rocking until the end