Volunteers stand as International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach gives a speech during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Mixed bag: Erratic Pandemic Olympics come to a nuanced end
By Ted Anthony/AP
David Goldman / AP
Volunteers stand as International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach gives a speech during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
(Tokyo) — The pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics have officially come to an end.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has declared the games closed and the Olympic flame has been extinguished.
The closing ceremony was held in a COVID-emptied stadium, though athletes were still able to gather on the field.
The baton has now been passed to Paris, which will host the Games in 2024.
The Tokyo Games presented logistical and medical obstacles like no other.
They offered up serious conversations about mental health.
And when it came to sport, they delivered both triumphs and a few surprising shortfalls.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.