The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been the country’s biggest-ever broadcast and digital event. After two weeks, the Games are coming to end with the Closing Ceremony airing Sunday, August 8th at 9pm AEST on Seven, 7mate, and 7plus.
The theme of the closing ceremony is Worlds We Share.
The athletes who have not already returned home will walk through the stadium in a similar manner to the Opening Ceremony, before a final medal ceremony is held for one of the final day’s events. This is traditionally the marathon event from the last day of competition.
Another traditional part of the Closing Ceremony is the host country handing over to the next Olympic destination. This year, that means that Japan will hand over to France which is set to hold the next games in Paris in 2024. The Olympic flag will be lowered and handed over to the head of the IOC, who will then pass it to an official representing Paris.
In a normal year, both the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony would be witnessed by thousands of people in a packed stadium. As a result of the rising rates of Covid-19 however, this year the ceremony will take place in a stadium without spectators.
Seven’s coverage of the Olympics has largely been anchored by Hamish McLachlan, Abbey Gelmi, Johanna Griggs, Luke Darcy, Matt Shirvington, Edwina Bartholomew, Lisa Sthalekar and Andy Maher. Expected to take viewers through the Closing Ceremony are the same team that hosted the Opening Ceremony: Bruce McAvaney, Johanna Griggs, Hamish McLachlan and Kumi Taguchi.
Opening Ceremony
Seven claimed a massive share of 56% for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Not many might have been expecting its Olympic TV ratings would have climbed higher than that for Day One of the competition. In total, 2.12m people tuned in to watch the Opening Ceremony.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics Closing Ceremony: Sunday, August 8th at 9pm AEST on Seven, 7Mate, and 7plus