Tokyo Olympics LIVE: Games brought to an end in closing ceremony as Paris 2024 welcomes handover
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As the Tokyo Olympics comes to an end, the 16th and final day of the Games has not been without its drama. With two late golds, Team GB have now equalled their medal tally of 65 from the home Games of London 2012, and the USA have overtaken China at the top of the table.
Cyclist Jason Kenny won Team GB’s first gold of the day with an extraordinary performance in the keirin final. He started at the front and saw a gap, tearing away with more than three laps to go – and the chasing pack simply couldn’t keep up. It makes him the most decorated Briton in Olympic history, with an unmatched seven gold medals.
Hopes were also high for Laura Kenny, who was looking to wrap up her Games with a second gold in Tokyo in the women’s omnium. The reigning champion was initially leading the race before she suffered an early blow after being involved in a huge crash in the opening scratch race. She was able to ride on but unable to climb back up the leaderboard, with Team USA’s Jennifer Valente eventually claiming gold.
In the boxing, Lauren Price has also taken gold for Team GB in her women’s middleweight final against China’s Li Qian at the Kokugikan Arena. It denies China the opportunity to match Team USA on 39 golds – with the Americans winning both the women’s basketball and volleyball today.
Earlier, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge won the final athletics event of Tokyo 2020 with a commanding performance in the men’s marathon in Sapporo, winning his second straight gold medal after the Rio marathon and cementing his place among the all-time greats of the sport.
Follow all the latest news, results and medals below.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The national anthem of Greece is played before the medal ceremonies of the women’s and men’s marathon.
This is to honour of the history of the Olympics.
It was a marathon double for Kenya as Peres Jepchirchir and Eliud Kipchoge both took gold. IOC president Thomas Bach is doing the presenting.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The shifts with a DJ and a light show accompanying some break dancers, which is fitting as that is going to be one of the new sports introduced to the Olympics at Paris 2024.
After the success of skateboarding, climbing and surfing at these Games, there can only be positive feelings ahead of the introduction of ‘breaking’ in 2024.
And the handover theme continues with some French-themed music.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The theme of this next section is ‘Sunday afternoon in the park’. There are some dancers, jugglers, saxophone players, and it’s all very chill.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The lights go out now at the Olympic Stadium as a specular virtual display beings. Beads of light come together to form the Olympic rings. Very nice.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
And here come Team GB. There are about 100 athletes there I think, as well as some support staff. Quite a few have already flown home, of course.
Katie Archibald and Kate French are a couple of faces there, from what I can see.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The United States are welcomed into the stadium, and they look to be a jubilant mood after topping the medal table on the final day of the Games. They won 113 medals overall, including 39 gold medals.
There are certainly lots of gold medals amongst those athletes.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The athletes from the various countries, or at least those who have yet to fly home, are now making their way into the Olympic Stadium.
A highlight real of some of the best moments of the Games is played, with Team GB’s Adam Peaty and Tom Daley featuring heavily.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The flagbearers from the participating Olympic nations are now making their way into the stadium. While there were two flagbearers at the opening ceremony, there’s just one for each country here.
From what I can see, Italy are represented by 100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs, and there’s Laura Kenny flying the flag for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Tokyo 2020: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
Fireworks kick off the closing ceremony with a bang, as the Japanese national flag is brought into the national stadium by six home athletes who have won medals at these Games. They are the hosts’ flagbearers.
Laura Kenny has the honour for Team GB.
Tokyo Olympics: Closing ceremony underway at Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Stadium is set as we prepare to bid farewell to an extraordinary Games. What an incredible two weeks we’ve had.
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