The Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony. On the stadium's side screens, the Olympic motto, "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together" is displayed.
The closing ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics took place in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo for about two and a half hours from 20:00 (JST) on 8 August 2021.[2] The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, which was postponed for one year due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, was held without spectators. The scale was also reduced compared to past ceremonies as athletes were required to leave the Olympic Village 48 hours after their competitions finished.[3]
The proceedings combined the formal ceremonial closing of this international sporting event (including closing speeches,[4] the parade of athletes[5] and the handover of the Olympic flag[6]) with an artistic spectacle to showcase the culture and history of the current and next host nation (France) for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[7] The theme of the Olympic Ceremonies was Moving Forward, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic, with the closing ceremony theme being Worlds we share.[8]
The closing ceremony was largely pre-recorded with some live segments.[9] Performers adhered to social distancing measures during the live portions.[10] The ceremony gave a chance for athletes to experience a day in a Tokyo park, included a "moment of remembrance", featuring cultural dances and folk songs from the three national ethnic groups of Japan, and had references to the 1964 Summer Olympics.[5][11]
The announcers at all ceremonies were Georges Veyssière (French), Mai Shoji (English) and Hiroyuki Sekino (Japanese).[12]
Preparations
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) gave the first report of preparations in December 2017, with the release of the "Basic Policy" document for the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies.[13] The document was based upon feedback from experts and opinions of the Japanese public[14] and includes the foundational elements for the positioning and overall concept of the four ceremonies.[13] The Olympic opening ceremony introduced the themes and concepts of the 4 ceremonies, including peace, coexistence, reconstruction, the future, Japan and Tokyo, the athletes and involvement.[15]
The opening and closing ceremonies has had three different directors as its Chief Creative Director. Between July 2018 and December 2020, Mansai Nomura, an actor in traditional Japanese theater, was the Chief Creative Director.[16][17] Normura stepped down from the role and becoming an advisor. Between December 2020 and March 2021, Hiroshi Sasaki was Chief Creative Director,[18] until Sasaki resigned after making a derogatory comment about Japanese comedian and fashion icon Naomi Watanabe.[19][20] The reports came a month after Yoshirō Mori, president of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, resigned over derogatory comments made about female members of the committee.[21] Since March 2021, Takayuki Hioki, managing director of Sports Branding Japan,[22] has been the Deputy Chief Ceremonies Officer and Executive Producer.[1]
Italian Marco Balich[ja], head of Balich Worldwide Shows, was the Senior Adviser to the Executive Producer.[23] Balich performed these functions also during the production of the ceremonies on 2006 Winter Olympics, 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 Summer Olympics,[24][25] among another events as 2019 Pan American Games and 2019 Summer Universiade.[26] In an interview, in July 2019, he mentioned that his involvement would be in partnership with the Japanese advertising company Dentsu.[27] Dentsu's creative director for these ceremonies, Kaoru Sugano, resigned in January 2020 over harassment claims.[28]
COVID-19 impact
In a preview press release, "Moving Forward" would be consistent theme for both 2020 Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The ceremonies would be linked by the concept of "Moving Forward", a reference to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. "We have designed the ceremonies around the concept that the Games can bring fresh hope and encouragement to people around the world through the active appearance of athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Games and via the power of sport", organisers declared.[8] This was expected, as just after the postponement, Balich went on record that the crisis would be mentioned at some point during the ceremony due to its significance at the games.[29]
The closing ceremony theme was "Worlds we share" which is expected to cover themes of diversity & inclusion and a brighter and better future.[8][30] Many sequences of the ceremony were pre-recorded, due to COVID restrictions including traditional Ainu dancers from Hokkaido.[9]
Much of the artistic and cultural sections of the ceremony adhered to social distancing guidelines and the majority of segments were pre-recorded.[9] Before the announcement of barring spectators were made, ticket prices for the Closing Ceremony were expected to range between ¥12,000 and ¥300,000.[31][32]
Venue
The Japan National Stadium served as the main stadium for the closing ceremony. Demolition of the old National Stadium was completed in May 2015, followed by the construction of the new stadium which began at the same site on 11 December 2016.[33] The stadium was handed over to the IOC on 30 November 2019 for necessary games and ceremony preparations. Capacity during the Olympic Games was 60,102 taking into account press and executive seating areas.[34]
Weather conditions
20:00 temperature 26.3°C (79.3°F) humidity 94% [35]
Parade of flag bearers (20:09-), BGM: Olympic March (Composer, Yuji Koseki), Highlights video of the sports competitions (20:18-20:20), Welcoming the Olympic athletes (20:21-20:42)
Particles of light soar and form Olympic symbols (20:43-20:45), Music and performance to show the social life of Tokyo & entertain the athletes (20:45-20:58)
A performance of the National Anthem of Greece (20:59-21:00), Medal Ceremony for Marathon Winners (Women 21:01-21:07, Men 21:08-21:17), Introducing new IOC Athletes commission members, video of volunteers followed by token of thanks from all the athletes for the volunteers (8 representatives on stage) (21:17-21:20)
The Antwerp Ceremony: started with the Olympic Anthem to lower the Olympic flag (21:35-21:39), Handover of the Antwerp flag from the governor of Tokyo (Yuriko Koike) to the mayor of the next host city, Paris (Anne Hidalgo), via the IOC President. Paris 2024 presentation video played (Performance video of the National Anthem of France by the Orchestre National de France 21:41-21:46, Signature of "Paris 2024" by Tony Estanguet 21:47-21:52).[43]
Figures of actress Shinobu Otake and children singing "A Stroll Among the Stars" (22:08-), Extinguishing the torch (22:15) with "Moonlight" of Debussy (arrangement by Isao Tomita), Video of the Paralympic Games (22:15-22:16), After loud fireworks, the 7 characters of "ARIGATO" projected on the large full high-definition video device (22:17)
A World of Applause
A fireworks show began the ceremonies, while a highlights video played.
The flag bearers then arrived in a two by two configuration, until they reach the middle of the stadium.[46] They then surround the middle circle of the stadium floor. After the flags arrived at the stadium a highlights video of the events from all sports was shown.[49]
The entrance of the flags featured the original 1964 Olympic Parade of Athletes music entitled "Olympic March", followed by a more modern-day remix by Fantastic Plastic Machine, KEIZOmachine!, Takeshi Nakatsuka and REMO-CON that played during the athletes' entrance, which combined modern day dance music with the original 1964 Olympic March, and it also featured elements of traditional music from around the world.
Once the athletes all arrived, the lights went out and the athletes were asked to turn on a light (such as a light on their smartphone) where then, an augmented reality (or taped) segment played to show the athletes were united under the Olympic rings.[46]
All Tokyoites
This segment was to show a day at the park in Tokyo while also showcasing Japanese popular music. The organisers also stated the segment was for the athletes: "Despite having come to Tokyo, the athletes have not had the opportunity to see or experience Tokyo for themselves."[46] The musical portion featured performances by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, milet, DJ Matsunaga[ja], and the Tokyo Katakura High School Senior Brass Band (the latter performed remotely via pre-recorded material) performing a medley featuring LiSA'sGurenge, Kyu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki, Ludwig van Beethoven's Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9 and Édith Piaf's Hymne à l'amour as the first reference to Paris, as the host city of the next Games in 2024.[50] This also was the first appearance of Ode to Joy at an Olympic Ceremony since the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony.[51]
The new members of the IOC Athletes Commission were introduced and presented bouquets to Tokyo 2020 volunteers.[46] A segment dedicated to volunteers was shown before the new members were introduced which featured the volunteers working on enhanced cleaning measures, social distancing and other safety guidelines due to the current COVID-19 pandemic safety measures.
We Remember
A lone dancer (Aoi Yamada) performed butoh as performers circled around the stage carrying lanterns. Various funeral and mourning rituals performed across Japan were presented at this ceremony in memory of those who died in this exceptionally extended five-year Olympic cycle and also in honor of all those passed around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 3 national ethnic groups of Japanese population were featured: the Ainu from Hokkaido, Eisa performed by Okinawans, and a Nishinomai Bon Odori dance from Akita, to represent the Japanese proper. As the life goes on, the traditional Gujō Odori from Gifu was performed on a party at the Yoyogi Park simulation while performers in yukata kimono performed the traditional Tokyo Ondō around the stage backed by a drummer (Kensaku Sato) and two singers (Takayuki Matsuda and his daughter, Ryu Matsuda), as the tradition determines the volunteers, the performers and the athletes are invited to join in.[53]
Prologue: To Paris 2024
The Trocadéro set up as the Paris 2024 fan area during the Tokyo 2020 Games. This was the location at the end of this segment and where the opening ceremony would be held.
The Antwerp Ceremony is a long-standing tradition held at every Olympic closing ceremony since 1920. It symbolizes the formal handover of the Olympic Games from the current host city to the next, representing the continuity of the Olympic Movement and the enduring global Olympic spirit. The ceremony encapsulates both historical continuity and the anticipation of the next Games, often featuring artistic performances, cultural displays, and symbolic gestures that reflect the culture and identity of the next host city. The Antwerp Ceremony derives its name from the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, which were the first Games after World War I and were designed to symbolize peace, international unity, and renewal.[55]
Approximately 180 days later, the flag was raised again in Beijing, China for the 2022 Winter Olympics at the opening ceremony on 4 February 2022. After the Olympic Anthem, Yuriko Koike, in a specially designed kimono for the ceremony and serving as Governor of Tokyo, passed the Olympic flag to IOC President Thomas Bach, who then handed it to Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris. This marked the first occasion in Olympic history that the Olympic flag was passed between two female mayors, which was remarked upon by Hidalgo.[57][58]
The Paris 2024 presentation at Tokyo 2020 consisted of two pre-recorded films,[59] culminating in approximately two minutes of live footage from the Trocadéro, symbolizing the return of the Modern Olympics to the birthplace of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Movement. The celebration occurred in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower, the main venue for the 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony. This unique approach combined cinematic storytelling with live urban spectacle, integrating both the historical landmarks of Paris and its contemporary identity as a global cultural capital.[60]
This marked the first Antwerp Ceremony executed under the updated rules of the Agenda 2020 plan, implemented by the IOC in 2014, which encouraged greater innovation, sustainability, and global engagement in Olympic ceremonies.
First Film: La Marseillaise and the Urban Symphony
The anthem was performed in multiple locations across Paris, combining music, architecture, and urban culture to create a citywide symphony that illustrated the values of the French Republics and the vision of Paris 2024. Selected locations were imbued with symbolic meaning:
Roof of Stade de France – emphasizing the centrality of athletics and the versatility of Paris’s major venues for multiple sports, including football, rugby sevens, and the closing ceremony.
Escalier Daru, Louvre Museum – musicians performed beside the Winged Victory of Samothrace, creating a symbolic link between modern Olympic ideals and the cultural heritage of ancient Greece, while highlighting the historical roots of the Games.
Place du Vert-Galant – reflecting the Games’ environmental and sustainability commitments.
Pont Neuf – juxtaposing historic Parisian architecture with the modernity of contemporary Olympic values.
La REcyclerie – representing urban innovation, ecological awareness, and the Games’ future-oriented planning.
Skatepark Diderot, Seine-Saint-Denis – representing youth, urban sports, creativity, and inclusion, reflecting the Games’ post-pandemic adaptation to contemporary social and cultural trends.
The performance concluded with ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet playing the final notes of the anthem on his saxophone aboard the International Space Station, synchronizing space and Earth to mark the symbolic transition between Japan and France.[63]
Second Film: Ride Across the Roofs of Paris
The second pre-recorded film, Ride, directed by Valentin Petit and scored by Woodkid, presented a cinematic journey across Paris at dawn, as sunlight gradually illuminated the city’s rooftops, bridges, and boulevards. The film combined sweeping aerial drone shots, dynamic tracking sequences, and carefully choreographed urban movement, highlighting both the architectural heritage and contemporary urban energy of the French capital. The narrative centered on young BMX star Estelle Majal, portraying Marianne, the personification of the French Republic and one of three emblematic figures incorporated into the official Paris 2024 logo.[64]
Marianne's position as a central figure was intended to be a symbolic representation for "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," values at the heart of French identity and resonant with the universal ideals of the Olympic Movement.[65] Majal’s portrayal was not limited to static poses; she performed fluid BMX sequences across rooftops and terraces, weaving through the cityscape as if Paris itself were an extended course for athletic creativity. Her movements evoked themes of freedom, innovation, and youth culture, underscoring the focus on urban sports and engagement with a younger generation of spectators.
Key landmarks served as visual anchors in the narrative, emphasizing both the city’s historical depth and its capacity to host a global celebration of sport and culture. These included the Palais-Royal, with its classical courtyards blending with modern light installations; the Musée d'Orsay, whose Beaux-Arts façade and iconic clock framed dynamic BMX stunts; the Palais Garnier, linking Parisian artistic heritage with contemporary athletic expression; and Le Panthéon, connecting the ceremony to French historical and civic symbolism. The film culminated at the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic symbol of Paris, where Majal’s trajectory merged with a gigantic Paris 2024 flag measuring 5,200 m² (60 × 90 meters). This final visual was intended to create a monumental statement of the upcoming Games’ grandeur and ambition.
Adverse weather conditions on the day of filming prevented the physical unfurling of the flag from the Tower. Instead, CGI was used to depict the flag digitally, following earlier testing of a smaller prototype in June 2021. The use of CGI allowed the production team to maintain the visual impact and scale of the design while ensuring safety and logistical feasibility, illustrating the increasingly sophisticated integration of live-action footage, digital effects, and urban cinematography.[66]
Live Celebration at the Trocadéro
Following the conclusion of the pre-recorded films, the Paris 2024 segment transitioned to a live celebration at the Trocadéro, a public esplanade overlooking the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River. The square accommodated approximately 6,000 spectators, including local residents, invited guests, and returning French Olympic athletes from Tokyo.[67] Among the athletes present were multiple medalists such as Clarisse Agbegnenou and Teddy Riner, whose participation highlighted the continuity between the outgoing Tokyo 2020 Games and the forthcoming Paris 2024 Games. Their attendance provided a link between recent competitive achievements and the ceremonial handover, emphasizing both the personal accomplishments of athletes and the broader legacy of the Olympic Movement.[68]
The live program included a flyover by the Patrouille de France, the official aerobatic demonstration team of the French Air Force. The aircraft traced the national colours of France across the sky above the Eiffel Tower.[69]
In parallel, a group of breakdancers performed on a stage at the Trocadéro. Breakdancing is one of the sports making its Olympic debut at Paris 2024. The performance highlighted urban culture, creativity, and the inclusion of youth-oriented disciplines in the Olympic program. By presenting both traditional ceremonial elements, such as aerial formations, and contemporary cultural expressions, the organizers sought to demonstrate the Games’ capacity to bridge historical continuity with modern innovation. The choreography emphasized athletic skill, improvisation, and community engagement, aligning with Paris 2024’s focus on urban inclusion and youth participation.
PresidentEmmanuel Macron appeared atop the Eiffel Tower toward the conclusion of the celebration, accompanied by young athletes.[70] From this elevated location, Macron addressed attendees and viewers worldwide, officially inviting the global community to participate in Paris 2024. He recited the French version of the updated Olympic Motto, "Plus vite, Plus haut, Plus fort – Ensemble" ("Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together"). In his address, he highlighted collective effort, international solidarity, and the values central to the Olympic Movement.[71][72]
Following Macron, Tony Estanguet, COJOP President, appeared on stage. He inscribed "Paris 2024" on a camera lens, a visual gesture intended to symbolize the commencement of the next Games and to connect the city, its landmarks, and the Olympic program to a global audience. The camera subsequently panned to the Parisian sky, showing a summer skyline that reinforced the sense of place and temporal continuity. Simultaneously, the Tokyo Skytree, a prominent landmark in the outgoing host city, was illuminated in the national colours of France. This created a visual link between Tokyo and Paris, emphasizing the transition between host cities and the global nature of the Olympic Movement.
Broadcast and Production
The Paris 2024 segment of the Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony was produced and filmed by local French rights holders, including Discovery, Inc. through Eurosport and France Télévisions. These organizations were responsible for coordinating all aspects of production, including camera work, lighting, live staging, post-production effects, and satellite transmission. The segment integrated pre-recorded films with live coverage from the Trocadéro and required detailed logistical planning to synchronize performances, aerial displays, and live appearances with the Tokyo-based ceremony.[73]
The presentation was transmitted live via satellite, beginning at 14:42 and concluding at 14:53 CEST (UTC+2), and was incorporated seamlessly into the Tokyo closing ceremony broadcast. This marked the first occasion in Olympic history that a handover ceremony was entirely produced, performed, and broadcast from a location outside the host city, establishing a precedent for future Games under the Olympic Agenda 2020 framework. By separating the production location from the host stadium, organizers demonstrated the potential for innovative audiovisual storytelling, greater flexibility in staging, and international collaboration between host broadcasters.
The broadcast combined multiple technical approaches to achieve continuity with the Tokyo ceremony. High-definition cameras captured panoramic views of the Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower, while drone footage and aerial cinematography enhanced the visual scope of the pre-recorded films. The integration of CGI effects, particularly for sequences such as the Eiffel Tower displaying the Paris 2024 flag, required precise timing to synchronize with live commentary and the global broadcast feed. Additionally, multilingual commentary and live subtitles were provided to accommodate the international audience, ensuring that viewers in over 200 countries could experience the segment in real time.
Passing the Baton
Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games spoke to the athletes "There are no words to describe what you have achieved."[74] "Tonight the Olympic Flame that has lit up Tokyo will quietly go out. But the hope that has been ignited here will never be extinguished. It will remain alight in the hearts of people all over the world as we continue to hope for peace in the spirit of Ekecheiria, a tradition unbroken from the ancient Olympic Games." She also pointed people to the upcoming 2020 Summer Paralympic Games.[75] Her comments were overshadowed by a moth that landed on the podium.[76]
IOC PresidentThomas Bach thanked the volunteers for an "unprecedented Olympic Games" and said that Japanese people can be "extremely proud of what you have achieved". In French, he declared the Games closed, calling them "the Games of hope, solidarity, and peace", and "call[ed] upon the youth of the world" to assemble in Paris for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in 2024.[76][77]
On to the Next Chapter
After the presentation and closing speeches, actress Shinobu Otake (with the Suginami Children's Chorus) appeared, simulating an astronomy class in allusion to sci-fi movies and comics as they sang the iconic and popular song, "A Stroll Among Stars" composed by Kenji Miyazawa. The lyrics highlights the constellations that are seen in the Japanese sky during summer nights. After the song ended, an electronic version of Claude Debussy's Clair de lune performed by Isao Tomita started playing, the cauldron's flame was extinguished through a "telekinesis simulation" (the cauldron was simulated to have been extinguished manually as it was impossible to do so in real life) in which the children and the teacher were making a sign of gratitude, shortly thereafter, the structure in which the fire had been burning for the past 16 days closed and reverted to its original shape. As the protocol demands, the last fireworks display then started.
After the fireworks display a trailer of the then upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was screened.[78] Finally, one of the large screens showed a goodbye message with the word "Arigato" which is shown in the same font as the word "Sayonara" was during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964 using stop-motion toy cubes rather than scoreboard lettering. This was a homage and a gratitude to all the people who were involved in the two times the city hosted the Summer Olympic Games (1964 and 2020).[79][80]
Philip Barker of *Inside the Games* described the Closing Ceremony as "dignified" and appropriate in tone for athletes and supporters, reflecting a ceremony that honored the unique circumstances of the Games. He noted that Seiko Hashimoto’s comment that the flame would "quietly go out" conveyed an apt sense of closure and gratitude that the Games were able to take place at all.[92]
Dominic Patten of *Deadline Hollywood* offered a more mixed assessment, calling the ceremony an "uneven mixtape" of contrasting elements. He pointed to the low-key tribute to Japanese culture and subdued acknowledgement of the pandemic, juxtaposed with the energetic celebration of Paris 2024. Patten also remarked that Thomas Bach's clichés-laden speech drew only sparse applause. He concluded that, while "lacking the Covid catastrophe or shutdown that many predicted", the event ended in a near-empty stadium with a simple "Arigato" on the jumbotron, which felt fittingly subdued under the circumstances.[93]
Alan Tyers of *The Daily Telegraph* reflected on the updated Olympic motto, “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”, interpreting it as indicative of a shift toward storytelling that emphasizes inclusion, diversity, justice, and athlete welfare alongside performance. He also commented on the ceremony’s unusual atmosphere, shaped by being held without a live stadium audience, which gave it a distinctively somber and contemplative character.[94]
↑ "The Olympic Games are back in France – Paris 2024 offers an exceptional celebration in the heart of the new Host City". presse.paris2024.org. 8 August 2021. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021. For this ceremony, Paris 2024 collaborated with a new generation of athletes French creative talent who brought a fresh and modern touch to proceedings: Woodkid for the musical composition, Victor le Masne for the re-orchestration of the Marseillaise, Chloé Dufresne as the conductor of the Orchestre National de France and Valentin Petit for the direction.
In the video on the website ( sports.nhk.or.jp ), an announcement is made in the stadium to announce the start of the closing ceremony from the time index 00:47:40.
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