RIO 2016 OLYMPIC ROUNDUP..

The Rio Olympics drew to a close with a spectacular 3-hour ceremony celebrating the Brazilian arts. "These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city. Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life," said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.

 Here are some of the highlights of the closing ceremony.  

 
Human formations of iconic Rio landmarks Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.  
The Olympic flame was extinguished by rain⛈ which then gave life to a large tree sculpture to symbolise rebirth.  
Brazilian model Izabel Goulart led a parade of 50 women, 200 dancers & 12 carnival queens.  
Norwegian DJ Kygo and singer-songwriter Julia Michaels performed “Carry Me”.  
A symbolic handover of the Olympic flag.  
The Rio edition featured 11,303 athletes from 206 nations & a refugee team.

The ceremony included a section marking the transition to the next Olympiad – that of Tokyo 2020, featuring the appearence of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who emerged from a green pipe in a Super Mario-inspired routine.

HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE EVENTS

FOOTBALL

BRAZIL FINALLY STRIKE GOLD - Brazil beat Germany in a penalty shoot-out to end their long wait for an Olympic Games football gold medal in the most dramatic of circumstances at an emotionally charged Maracanã. NIGERIA dream Team won bronze medal and Japanese billionaire plastic surgeon, Dr Katsuya Takasu donate $390,000 to the team.

FEMALE FOOTBALL- GERMAN beats Swedish women 2-1 to win gold, Canadian ladies defeated Brazilian women 2-1 to win bronze.

ATHLETICS

JAMAICAN USAIN BOLT COMPLETE HISTORIC TRIPLE 3PEAT- BOLT won 3 gold medals in 100m, 200m and 4x100m to take is goal haul to 9 gold medals in the last 3 Olympics in the same three categories. He is now undisputed the greatest athlete ever

MO FARAH COMPLETE DOUBLE DOUBLE - Following his victory in the 5000m and 10,000m at Rio 2016, Great Britain’s Mo Farah became the first man in 40 years to retain both titles.

USA FEMALE ATHLETES DOMINATE 4X400M RELAYS-The US women were first to secure another sprinting gold, making that the sixth for Allyson Felix, who anchored the team in a time of 3:19.06, a new season’s best. They were followed by Jamaica in 3:20.34 seconds, with Great Britain coming third over five seconds behind

SWIMMING

MR OLYMPIAN FUTHER EXTEND HIS GREATNESS- US Michael Phelps won 5 gold and 1 silver at Rio Olympic taking his total haul to 28 Olympic medals, 23 are gold. He is the undisputed most decorated Olympian of all time.

BOXING

ADAMS RETAIN HISTORIC FEAT-Great Britain's Nicola Adams was at her energetic best taking on Sarah Ourahmoune in the women's flyweight final, becoming the first British boxer to retain an Olympic title for 92 years by winning the gold medal. The 33-year-old from Yorkshire swept the scorecards 39-37 to become the first two-time women's Olympic boxing champion.

BASKETBALL

USA FEMALE BASKETBALL STREAK CONTINUES-Team USA won another gold medal with a comfortable 101-72 win against Spain, continuing a winning streak dating back to Barcelona 1992. 

 MALE BASKETBALL- DURANT DRIVES USA TO A RESOUNDING VICTORY.USA powered ahead to win 96-66, winning their 15th Olympic gold medal. Kevin Durant in particular stepped up in the second quarter when he scored 18 of his game-high 31 points.

WATERPOLO

CERBIAN CROWNED KING OF POOL -Serbia's wait for an Olympic men's water polo title is over, after they over-powered defending champions Croatia 11-7 (3-2, 3-1, 3-2, 2-2) in the gold medal match at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium.

MENS BADMINTON

CHEN NOT TO BE DENIED-Chen Long won gold in the men's singles final on his second attempt, defeating Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, who had to settle for a third-straight Olympic silver medal. The Chinese athlete walked away from London 2012 with bronze but has risen to the top of badminton's ranks since then, winning the last two world championships.

GOLF

HALL OF FAMER SHINES-Inbee Park cruised to victory with a five-shot margin, with Lydia Ko of New Zealand taking silver and Shanshan Feng of China picked up the bronze.

RIO ROMANCE

Chinese diver Qin Kai proposes marriage to He Zi, who had just received a silver medal in the women's diving 3-meter springboard final in Rio on Sunday.

RIO BOO

France's Renaud Lavillenie was moved to tears by the crowd's booing during the medal ceremony for the men's pole vault on Wednesday. Lavillenie won silver in the event. Brazil's Thiago Braz da Silva WON THE GOLD.

HOPE SOLO EMBARRASMENT

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo called the Swedish team 'cowards' after they knocked the top-ranked Americans out of the tournament.

SHAKING AND BOWING BROUHAHA

After Israel's Or Sasson defeated Egypt's Islam El Shehaby in judo, Sasson approached the Egyptian to shake hands, and El Shehaby backed away.

FINAL MEDAL STANDING