Rio 2016 closes on a high

It was an unforgettable Rio Olympics.

Singapore won its first gold medal thanks to swimmer Joseph Schooling, Chinese diver Qin Kai proposed to fellow diver He Zi, and American actor Zac Efron got himself a selfie with American gymnast Simone Biles. And of course Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt continued to reign supreme in their respective fields.

These are just events that happened in the sporting arena.

Naturally, you would expect the closing ceremony, held on Sunday (Aug 21) at the Maracana stadium in Rio, to end with a bang. And it did not disappoint.

Here are five highlights from the ceremony.

1) Kim Jong-un (or is it?)

Nobody expected to see the leader of the isolated country of North Korea in Rio, but there he was, standing among the audience, waving his flags.

Or at least someone who really looked like the feared Kim Jong-un.

What looks like North Korea leader Kim Jong-un at 2016 Rio. PHOTO: AFP

Turns out he was an impersonator, but he was convincing enough that athletes took pictures with him.

2) Pita Taufatofua, all greased up

The world first caught wind of him during the opening ceremony, where he walked with his country's flag, shirtless and oiled up.

Tongan athlete Pita Taufatofua in all his glory at the Rio 2016 opening ceremony. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Tongan athlete may have lost his Taekwondo match to Iranian exponent Sajjad Mardani, but all eyes were on him again during his appearance at the closing ceremony, with as much - if not more - oil sculpting his muscles.

3) Featured stars

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London saw John Lennon, George Michael, Muse, Ed Sheeran and One Direction gracing the stage.

This year, Rio 2016 had Brazillian supermodel Izabel Goulart walk the stage with Samba legend Renato Sorriso.

Model Izabel Goulart with Samba dancer Renato Sorriso on stage. PHOTO: AFP

Norwegian DJ Kygo and American singer-songwriter Julia Michaels were also introduced on stage to perform their song Carry Me.

Julia Michaels and Kygo perform Carry Me at the Rio 2016 closing ceremony. PHOTO: AFP

4) Dancing broccoli (and grapes... and raspberries...)

Dancers came on stage in fluffy multi-coloured outfits, which received varying comments across social media.

 

 

 

 

How can the next host country top dancing fruits and vegetables?

5) Super Mario

It seems like Tokyo, Japan is on the right track, if Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has anything to say about it.

After airing a pre-recorded video featuring video game characters like Doraemon and Mario digging a tunnel through Earth from Rio to Japan, he leaped out of a green pipe (Super Mario style), dressed in a Mario costume.

 

 

 

 

 

This was part of a 12-minute showcase of Tokyo which came after the symbolic Olympic flag handover from Rio mayor Eduardo Paes to Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike.

To end it all off, the message "See you in Tokyo" flashed on the ground, along with the logo for Tokyo 2020.