Rio 2016: In Amazing Closing Ceremony, Olympic Flag Goes To Tokyo, Japan PM Shinzo Abe Appears As Super Mario

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games officially ended Sunday night with an incredible, carnival-inspired closing ceremony, as well as the handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo.

Rio 2016: In Amazing Closing Ceremony, Olympic Flag Goes To Tokyo, Japan PM Shinzo Abe Appears As Super Mario

The colorful event, which lasted nearly three hours, celebrated Brazil’s arts and was held in a wet Maracana Stadium.

Among the highlights were Tokyo’s amazing showcase and a vibrant carnival parade.

“These were a marvelous Olympics, in a marvelous city,” said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.

“Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life.”

Bach officially closed the Games of the 31st Olympiad after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team.

One of the most entertaining and cheer-filled moments of the night came when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared dressed as classic video game character Super Mario, coming out of a giant green pipe in the stadium.

The event also included the parade of athletes and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame by a rain shower, which then gave life to a large tree sculpture to symbolize rebirth.

Gymnast Simone Biles, who finished with five medals (four gold, one bronze), served as Team USA’s flag bearer.

The United finished first in the standings, with 121 total medals (46 gold). Great Britain finished second with 67 medals (27 gold), and China came third with 70 medals (26 gold). (The number of gold medals determines the rank, not the total number of medals.)

Rounding out the top 10 were Russia (56 total, 19 gold), Germany (42 total, 17 gold), Japan (41 total, 12 gold), France (42 total, 10 gold), South Korea (21 total, 9 gold), Italy (28 total, 8 gold), and Australia (29 total, 8 gold).

Final Rio 2016 Olympics Medal Count (Aug. 21):

Other highlights of the ceremony included human formations of iconic Rio landmarks Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

The Rio carnival anthem ‘Cidade Maravilhosa’ also played toward the end of the event.

Brazilian model Izabel Goulart led a parade of 50 women and 200 dancers, who were joined by a sound truck containing 12 carnival queens.

The ceremony ultimately concluded with a confetti and firework show.

For the symbolic passing of the Olympic flag to Tokyo, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes returned it to IOC president Bach, before it was passed to Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike.

After this came an astounding 12-minute showcase of Tokyo, which included Prime Minister Abe’s shining moment.

Bach also stated: “Brazil we love you, thank you for your warm hospitality. Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy of life. You gave many reasons to be proud. These Games demonstrated that diversity is an enrichment for everyone. These Games were a celebration of diversity. [These Games] are leaving a unique legacy for many generations to come. History will talk about a Rio before and a much better Rio after these Games.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Model Izabel Goulart and Renato Sorriso dance during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracana Stadium on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)