Rio Olympics Closing Ceremony Time 2016: Need-to-Know Info for Exciting Event
The closing ceremony for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will take place on Sunday, ending at the city's iconic Maracana Stadium where the flame will be extinguished.
It will also be the venue for an elaborate carnival-style street party. Music is set to come from Norwegian artist Kygo, who will perform his latest single.
During the ceremony, the Olympic flag will be handed to officials from Tokyo, Japan, the site of the next edition of the Games in 2020. There will even be a chance to see what the next host country has planned.
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Before a closer look at how the event will unfold, here's the need-to-know information:
Date: Sunday, August 21
Time: Midnight (BST) / 7 p.m. (ET)
TV: BBC One / NBC
Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport / NBC Sports Live Extra
Preview
Rosa Magalhaes will orchestrate the ceremony after her well-regarded work organising the Rio carnival. Her designs are expected to ensure a colourful and vivid motif intended to showcase local culture.
Specifically, Magalhaes and renowned architect Lena Santana will oversee a special edition of the Cordao da Bola Preta, a carnival street party housed at the Maracana.
Magalhaes talked up the necessity of this event, per Fernanda Ezabella of the Games' official site: "The idea is to talk about the art made by the people, so of course Carnival is a must. No other city in the world has an official anthem that is actually a Carnival tune ("Cidade Maravilhosa"). Carnival simply has to be at the end (of the Games)."
Another key aspect of the event will be a cultural tribute featuring Samba sensation Robert Sa, according to Ezabella: "There will also be a special tribute to the mythical Brazilian actress, singer and dancer Carmen Miranda (1909-1955)."
Music will come from Kygo, performing his most recent single "Carry Me." Vocalist Julia Michaels will join the 24-year-old Norwegian musician for the performance.
There is still a chance Brazil's football legend Pele could participate. Health issues meant the 75-year-old former Santos star was unavailable for the opening ceremony and its events.
However, the five-time FIFA World Cup winner has hinted he could yet take part in the finale to these Games. He recently took to social media to suggest he may yet be well enough to participate, per an AP report (h/t NBC Olympics): "I am continuing my physiotherapy and focused on joining you for the closing festivities on August 21. I love you! #olympics."
One possible candidate to carry a flag for her country could be Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak. She's already indicated she'd be keen on the honour after already winning a quartet of medals at these Games, per Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: “I think getting to represent your whole country at the Olympic Games would be awesome and to walk out holding the Canadian flag, I would love to do that.”
The overall ceremony should last close to four hours in length. It's finishing moment will involve the passing of the Olympic torch to representatives from Tokyo, before the flame is finally extinguished at the Maracana.
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