Tokyo Olympics 2020 Closing Ceremony Highlights: Olympic flame extinguished as Games are closed by Thomas Bach

I'd be lying if I said I am not emotional right now! These 17 days were something truly extraordinary and we will remember them until our athletes create more memories for us. On behalf of the entire team, I, Shivansh Gupta, thank all of you for taking this journey with us at HT. It has been a privilege to bring live action, reports, analysis, reactions, and everything else related to the Olympics for the last 17 days. This may be over but our coverage isn't. We have loads of events and tournaments coming up from the world of sports, so make sure to follow us. Until next, it's goodbye. CIAO!

THE FIREWORKS GO OFF and they form a Rainbow of bridges, symbolizing a United world.

Arigato is displayed on the screen, word signifies Thank you

As OTAKE Shinobu and the Suginami Junior Chorus sing Hoshi Meguri no Uta (A Stroll Among the Stars), the Olympic Flame is slowly extinguished in the cauldron at the Olympic Stadium.

As the Olympic Flame is extinguished, the performers curl their hands into a ball, suggestive of a prayer and alludes to how each and every one of us in the world similarly wishes for peace, prays for the souls of those who are no longer with us, and feels gratitude.

Up next, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

IOC President declares the Games of the 32nd Olympics closed.

"See you in Paris, thank you very much"

To athletes: "You inspired us with this unifying power of sport. This was even more remarkable given the many challenges you had to face because of the pandemic."

"The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are the Olympic Games of hope, solidarity, and peace."

Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee head Hashimoto Seiko and IOC president Thomas Bach make their way onto the stage.

President of Tokyo 2020 speaks first

Merci Tokyo, Bonjour Paris. France has sent out a global invitation (In case you are wondering, yes, yours truly knows some French as well. it's definitely better than my Japanese)

The broadcast then cuts to visuals in Paris, where people are gathered at the Eifel Tower and they erupt in joy as the handover ceremony is completed.

There's an air-show being performed as well and we have visuals from the pilot's helmet. The planes let out the French flag colours as they continue to soar high above in the sky.

Now, we see a group of dancers pulling some seriously good moves. I am very tempted to try out a few but I shall hold my horses. For now at least.

President Emmanuel Macron of France appears in the montage to say the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger. Together.

Time for the national anthem of France, host of the Paris 2020 Olympic Games. It is performed by National Orchestra of France, conducted by Chloé Dufresne.

For the first time ever in a handover ceremony at the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony, the national anthem of the next host country is delivered on film as part of Paris 2024's presentation.

Stunning visuals and the melody of various instruments are hair-raising. We see visuals of a theatre, an astronaut playing saxophone in a space shuttle, a view of the earth and everyday life in Paris. They have arrived and are ready, is what they are conveying.

Basically, it was French astronaut Thomas Pesquet concluding the anthem with a few notes played from space, gazing towards Japan.

The Olympic Flag is lowered to the strains of the Olympic Anthem. It will then be handed from Mayor of Tokyo, KOIKE Yuriko, to IOC President Thomas Bach, who will pass it on to Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, signifying the handover to Paris 2024.

They take turns to wave the flag at every step of the handover

Time now, for the Olympic anthem

Starting with a song and traditional dance of the Ainu people, the video moves on to the Ryukyu Eisa, the Nishimonai Bon Odori, and the Gujo Odori, showcasing fine, old festivals and beautiful landscapes of the country.

A magnificent virtual tour.

The segment culminates with a performance inside the stadium

Now, time for a moment of remembrance and reflection, accompanied by performances of traditional dances and festivals of Japan.

A mark of gratitude to the heroes of the Tokyo members and to all the volunteers that made this event possible. They accept small gifts from the newly-elected IOC Athletes Commission members

70,970 cast members in total. Without their continuous efforts, the Games would have not been possible.

Arigato gozaimashita (yours sincerely knows a word or two)

The new members of the IOC athletes commission elected by their peers

Kenya- Rugby

Japan- Fencing

Federica Pellegrini: Italy- Swimming

They have made their way to the stage. Congratulations to them! They now hold a position of power and it comes with massive responsibilu

Bronze medal- Bashir Abdi (Belgium)

Silver medal- Abdi Nageeye (Netherlands)

Gold medal- Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)

They are being presented by Anita Defrantz- IOC Vice President. Accompanied by Sebastian Coe.

And now, the national anthem of Kenya

Bronze medal- Mollu Seidel(USA)

Silver Medal- Brigid Kosgei (Kenya)

Gold Medal- Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya)

Now, time for the Kenyan national anthem

The men's and women's marathons victory ceremony now. First up, the women's. The medal will be presented by IOC president Thomas Bach. He is also the 1976 Fencing Olympic champion.

Accompanied by Sebastian Coe, World Athletics President. Two gold medals and two silver medals and an Olympian.

TRIVIA- Traditionally, the men's marathon victory ceremony has taken place during the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games.

At Tokyo 2020, the women's marathon medal winners get the same honour.

The first of tonight's formalities, with the playing of the Greek anthem and the raising of the flag of the Hellenic Republic.

This marks the link between the Ancient Games and modern Games.

The athletes are having a ball of a time. After all, they have the nest view. Singing, dancing, hugging. The performers, the stunt personnel, and the orchestra make their way out.

It's all happening at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. It's a musical festival now with skateboarders and BMX bikes performing stunts and a saxophone performance.

And yes, we also had great performance by singer Milet.