The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics on Aug. 8 conclude with the closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in the Japanese capital. (Yonhap News)
By Kim Yeojin and Yoon Hee Young
The 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics on Aug. 8 ended after 17 days of competition amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A combined 206 teams -- those from 205 countries and the Refugee Olympic Team -- on Aug. 8 attended the closing ceremony that began at 8 p.m. at the Olympic Stadium in the Japanese capital, wrapping up the international sports festival for the harmony of humankind.
Thirty-four Korean athletes attended the event led by flag bearer and bronze medalist Jun Woong-tae, Korea's modern pentathlete to win an Olympic medal. The ceremony was held under the themes "Moving Forward," "Worlds We Share" and "A More Diverse Future."
From left clockwise are the national women's archery team of Jang Min-hee (front left), Kang Chae-young (front center) and An San (right); swimmer Hwang Sun-woo; artistic gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong; and women's volleyball captain Kim Yeon-koung. (Yonhap News)
This Olympics was the first to be held in an odd-numbered year since it was delayed due to COVID-19.
The Games were also the first with no spectators to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Select regions except the Greater Tokyo area allowed fans in the stands, but 96% of the competition venues did not.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the Tokyo Olympics was successfully held after overcoming many difficulties, adding that an extremely low 0.02% of participants tested positive for COVID-19.
An Olympic-record 93 countries claimed a medal, he added.
Korea sent a 354-member delegation to compete in 29 out of 33 official events.
The country finished 16th in the Games with six gold medals, four silver and 10 bronze. Archery earned four golds and fencing and gymnastics one each.
President Moon Jae-in said on his official Facebook account that the athletes conveyed a "message of comfort and hope" to the public through "honest beads of sweat" in an Olympics held in difficult times.
He also added that the nation's 20 medals ranging from the first in mixed archery to the last in men's modern pentathlon proved Korea's excellence to the world.
Teen athletes who stood out on the world stage in this Olympics included archer Kim Je-deok, 17, who won a gold medal for the men and another in the mixed team event; Yeo Seo-jeong, 19, a bronze medalist in women's artistic gymnastics; swimmer Hwang Sun-woo, 18; gymnast Ryu Sung-hyun, 19; table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, 17; and sport climber Seo Chae-hyun, 18.
The women's volleyball team, which advanced to the semifinals by defeating strong teams, and Woo Sang-hyeok, who finished fourth in the men's high jump, also received praise from the public.
The U.S. earned the most gold medals for the third consecutive Olympics with 39, followed by China with 38.
Three years from now, the 33rd Summer Olympics will run in Paris from July 26 to Aug. 11.
The French Air Force's acrobatic team Patrouille de France on Aug. 8 fly over the Eiffel Tower in Paris and spew vapor trails in the colors of the French flag. On the same day, the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics ended after 17 days of competition, and the French capital will host the 2024 edition. (Yonhap News)
lvzhen@korea.kr
