Olympics ended on Sunday night under a blanket of rain clouds, but for the Games that started shrouded by scandals of Russian doping and organisational chaos, Rio 2016 has shone when it mattered most. From a purely sporting perspective, South America’s first Games have been extraordinarily successful. The sporting competition has been of the highest standard in the pool, on the track and in indoor arenas. Almost 100 World
and Olympic records have been broken in what has been a relatively drugs-free Games.
Indeed, for the second time in two years, Brazil has shown it can successfully stage a major international sporting jamboree. To cap it, the host nation won the most cherished gold it had desired for so long -- a title in men’s football, which its rising starlet Neymar delivered by beating the mighty Germans in finals at the Maracana.
Overall, Rio will be remembered as the Games where American
swimmer Michael Phelps bid
goodbye by finishing his career
with a staggering 28 medals, 23 of
them gold, yet preferred to talk
more about how he spent much
of his career battling unhappiness
and resurrecting himself from alcohol
issues to eventually become
a man of greater depth -- and the
greatest Olympian ever. And who
will forget one Usain Bolt? The Jamaican sprinter did the unprecedented
here, too: winning three consecutive gold medals
after confirming this will be his last Olympics as well. Exuberance
defined Bolt throughout his career, along with his
unmatched speed, and long after he’s retired he’ll be remembered
for how he brought lightness and joy to a sport so often
defiled by doping. Another lingering image that will remain
-- especially that for the hosts -- is that of a kneeling, sobbing
Neymar, eyes looking to the heavens, after he coolly slotted
home the final-winning penalty against Germany.
The Rio Games were plagued by crime, polluted water and
venue problems. There were half-empty stadiums, overcrowded
streets and little close to the excitement of past Olympics.
But authorities did enough to conduct the Games smoothly.
Apart from organisational problems, the Games also highlighted
the issues dogging the International Olympic Organisation
itself -- corruption and lack of transparency. So, it was
left to the athletes to save these Games, and they did. For the
past two weeks, Brazilians appeared to have forgotten about
the many wider problems. They have enjoyed the fantastic
medal successes of their sailors, athletes and judokas. These
Olympics have been good for Brazil and good for humanity, a
needed tonic.
