Naomi Osaka lights Olympic cauldron at Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony

By George Ramsay, CNN

Updated 3:09 AM ET, Sat July 24, 2021

Fireworks explode over Tokyo's National Stadium at the end of the Olympics' closing ceremony on Sunday, August 8. The word "arigato," seen at left, means thank you in Japanese.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Fireworks explode over Tokyo's National Stadium at the end of the Olympics' closing ceremony on Sunday, August 8. The word "arigato," seen at left, means thank you in Japanese.
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The Olympic cauldron closes, extinguishing the Olympic flame at the end of the closing ceremony.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The Olympic cauldron closes, extinguishing the Olympic flame at the end of the closing ceremony.
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Dancers perform during the closing ceremony.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony.
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The national flags of Japan, Greece and France fly during the closing ceremony. Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. France will host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The national flags of Japan, Greece and France fly during the closing ceremony. Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. France will host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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The Olympic flag is folded after being lowered during the closing ceremony.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The Olympic flag is folded after being lowered during the closing ceremony.
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Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, who won the gold medal in the marathon, listens as his country's National Anthem is played during his medal ceremony. The medal ceremonies for both the men's and women's marathon took place during the closing ceremony. And that meant two playings of the Kenyan National Anthem, as Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir won gold in the women's event.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, who won the gold medal in the marathon, listens as his country's National Anthem is played during his medal ceremony. The medal ceremonies for both the men's and women's marathon took place during the closing ceremony. And that meant two playings of the Kenyan National Anthem, as Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir won gold in the women's event.
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Jets conduct a flyover next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. While the closing ceremony was held in Tokyo, a celebration was held in Paris. The French capital will be hosting the next Summer Games in 2024.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Jets conduct a flyover next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. While the closing ceremony was held in Tokyo, a celebration was held in Paris. The French capital will be hosting the next Summer Games in 2024.
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Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, makes a heart gesture as he delivers a speech at the closing ceremony. In his speech, Bach thanked the athletes and the Japanese people for their hard work and sacrifices in staging the most logistically challenging Olympic Games in history. "We did it together," he said.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, makes a heart gesture as he delivers a speech at the closing ceremony. In his speech, Bach thanked the athletes and the Japanese people for their hard work and sacrifices in staging the most logistically challenging Olympic Games in history. "We did it together," he said.
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Athletes watch performers take part in the closing ceremony. Because of Covid-19 protocols, all athletes were required to leave Japan within 48 hours of their competition, so there were fewer athletes at the closing ceremony than there were at the opening ceremony.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Athletes watch performers take part in the closing ceremony. Because of Covid-19 protocols, all athletes were required to leave Japan within 48 hours of their competition, so there were fewer athletes at the closing ceremony than there were at the opening ceremony.
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Polish athletes take pictures as they attend the closing ceremony.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Polish athletes take pictures as they attend the closing ceremony.
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The flags of each participating nation are brought into the stadium for the closing ceremony.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
The flags of each participating nation are brought into the stadium for the closing ceremony.
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Dignitaries applaud at the beginning of the closing ceremony.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
Dignitaries applaud at the beginning of the closing ceremony.
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American athletes show their medals to a video camera at the closing ceremony. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/08/sport/olympics-usa-most-medals/index.html" target="_blank">The United States finished on top of the medal table</a> for the third straight Summer Olympics, winning 39 gold medals and 113 medals in all. Second-place China finished with 38 golds and 88 medals in all. Host nation Japan had a third-best 27 golds and won a total of 58 medals.
Photos: The best photos from the Tokyo Olympics
American athletes show their medals to a video camera at the closing ceremony. The United States finished on top of the medal table for the third straight Summer Olympics, winning 39 gold medals and 113 medals in all. Second-place China finished with 38 golds and 88 medals in all. Host nation Japan had a third-best 27 golds and won a total of 58 medals.
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