RIO DE JANEIRO: Shaking to samba and sharing reflections in uniquely Brazilian ways, Olympians and fans said goodbye to the Rio Games with one last big bash that was both revelatory and a sigh of relief.The Rio Games, the first in South America, were a 16-day spectacle that combined numerous highlight reel moments with ugly and even bizarre episodes that sometimes overshadowed the competitions. "The closing ceremony in iconic Maracana Stadium was also meant to take care of some business - formally signaling the transition to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan. Samba legend Martinho da Vila, whose tunes make their way into many popular telenovelas, sang "Carinhoso," or "Affectionate. Many people, from Brazilians to IOC members, will analyze how things went for the Rio Games in the months ahead. "We are very resilient, we didn't leave anything important unaddressed," said Augusta Porto, 36, a translator and Rio resident.

Source: Times of India August 22, 2016 02:34 UTC