2020 Summer Olympics closing ceremony

"Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony" and "Tokyo 2021 closing ceremony" redirect here. For the Paralympics closing ceremony, see 2020 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony.
2020 Summer Olympics
closing ceremony
Part of 2020 Summer Olympics
The Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony. On the stadium's side screens, the Olympic motto, "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together" is displayed.
Date8 August 2021; 3 years ago (2021-08-08)
Time20:00 – 22:19 JST (UTC+9)
VenueOlympic Stadium
LocationTokyo, Japan
Coordinates35°40′N 139°49′E / 35.667°N 139.817°E / 35.667; 139.817
Theme"Moving Forward: Worlds we share"[1]
Filmed byOlympic Broadcasting Services (OBS)
Footage2020 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony in Olympic Channel on YouTube
Olympic rings
Part of a series on
2020 Summer Olympics

The closing ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics took place in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo for about two and a half hours from 20:00 (JST) on 8 August 2021.[2] The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, which was postponed for one year due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, was held without spectators. The scale was also reduced compared to past ceremonies as athletes were required to leave the Olympic Village 48 hours after their competitions finished.[3]

The proceedings combined the formal ceremonial closing of this international sporting event (including closing speeches,[4] the parade of athletes[5] and the handover of the Olympic flag[6]) with an artistic spectacle to showcase the culture and history of the current and next host nation (France) for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[7] The theme of the Olympic Ceremonies was Moving Forward, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic, with the closing ceremony theme being Worlds we share.[8]

The closing ceremony was largely pre-recorded with some live segments.[9] Performers adhered to social distancing measures during the live portions.[10] The ceremony gave a chance for athletes to experience a day in a Tokyo park, included a "moment of remembrance", featuring cultural dances and folk songs from the three national ethnic groups of Japan, and had references to the 1964 Summer Olympics.[5][11]

The announcers at all ceremonies were Georges Veyssière (French), Mai Shoji (English) and Hiroyuki Sekino (Japanese).[12]

  1. ^ Barker, Philip (15 July 2021). ""Moving Forward" to be theme of all Tokyo 2020 Opening and Closing Ceremonies". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Olympic Competition Schedule". 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  3. ^ The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announced that the number of attendees at the closing ceremony was about 4,500 people from the athletes of each country and region, about 850 people from the Games such as members of the IOC, and guests, and about 4,000 people from the media. "東京五輪閉会式始まる 日本選手団は約90人参加、侍マー君や石川佳純ら - 東京オリンピック2020 [2021年8月8日20時37分]" (in Japanese). 日刊スポーツ. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021. 東京オリンピック（五輪）・パラリンピック組織委員会は、閉会式の出席人数を選手団約4500人、関係者約850人、メディア約4000人と発表した。
  4. ^ Pearson, Matt; da Silva, Michael (8 August 2021). "Tokyo Olympics close as Paris starts to prepare for 2024". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b Lee, Michelle Ye Hee (8 August 2021). "Tokyo Games close with bittersweet sendoff for athletes, volunteers in pandemic event". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  6. ^ Molski, Max (8 August 2021). "With Fighter Jets and an Astronaut, Paris Takes Baton From Tokyo for 2024". NBC 10. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. ^ Mather, Victor (8 August 2021). "Paris, as host of the 2024 Games, will get its own special showcase". New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Tokyo 2020 unveils concepts behind Games' Opening and Closing Ceremonies". Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  9. ^ Savage, Nic (17 July 2021). "Mystery surrounds performers for Olympic Games Opening Ceremony". News.com.Au. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  10. ^ "IOC has no plan to mark Hiroshima anniversary". 2 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Tokyo 2020: Olympic torch goes out after closing ceremony marks end of Games – as it happened". Guardian. 8 August 2021. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  12. ^ "The voice of the Olympics and Paralympics heard around the world". Japan Today. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.