Olympic closing ceremonies
FILE - The Olympic flame burns as fireworks explode during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Creative director Marco Balich, reveals to The Associated Press that he has been working for a year on a 30-minute show that will run ahead of the World Cup 2022 opening game between Qatar and Ecuador. He says local organizers "wanted to create a real show, which FIFA is not accustomed to.” (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
AP Exclusive: Balich leads Olympics-style World Cup ceremony

By Andrew Dampf Nov. 16, 2022 04:05 PM EST

FILE - Then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears as the Nintendo game character Super Mario during the closing ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug. 21, 2016. Despite his fame as a Japan's longest serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe might have had enjoyed his biggest moment at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro. (Yu Nakajima/Kyodo News via AP, File)
Abe impersonated 'Super Mario' to promote Tokyo Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jul. 09, 2022 01:07 AM EDT

Fireworks explode over the stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
BEIJING SNAPSHOT: As Olympics ebb, smartphone synchronicity

By Ted Anthony Feb. 20, 2022 09:08 AM EST

Closing ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics begins, signaling end to world’s second pandemic Games

Feb. 20, 2022 07:00 AM EST
BEIJING (AP) — Closing ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics begins, signaling end to world’s second pandemic Games. ...

FILE - The Olympic flame burning in the center of the snowflake-shaped cauldron is on display near the National Stadium during the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
After Beijing bubble bursts, can the IOC save the Olympics?

By Eddie Pells Feb. 20, 2022 04:35 AM EST

Gloves hang from a cabinet where COVID-19 tests are done outside an hotel at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Olympics Live: US skaters lose appeal to get silver medals

Feb. 18, 2022 09:09 PM EST

FILE-In this photograph provided by the Indian Army, army officers of India and China hold a meeting at Pangong lake region in Ladakh on the India-China border on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. India will not attend Friday's opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, after one of the torchbearers reportedly chosen by Chinese authorities riled up New Delhi's anger. India's foreign affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said it was "regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicize an event like the Olympics." (Indian Army via AP, File)
EXPLAINER: Why India won't send diplomat to China Olympics

By Sheikh Saaliq Feb. 04, 2022 02:13 AM EST

Italy's Sofia Goggia reacts in the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G race in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Moioli replaces Goggia as Italy's flag bearer at Olympics

Jan. 25, 2022 07:41 AM EST

FILE - Women's snowboardcross gold medalist Michela Moioli, of Italy, celebrates during the medals ceremony at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Defending Olympic gold medalists Sofia Goggia and Michela Moioli both come from the Bergamo area that was the first epicenter of COVID-19 in Europe. Goggia skis with a design of Bergamo's skyline on the back of her racing helmet. Moioli lost her grandmother to the virus. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
From Bergamo to Beijing, Italy aims for more Olympic success

By Andrew Dampf Jan. 17, 2022 05:18 AM EST

FILE - Germany's Claudia Pechstein competes in the women's 5,000 meters during the world single distances speedskating championships Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Kearns, Utah. At 49, Pechstein will be the oldest woman to compete at a Winter Olympics and the second athlete — and only woman — to compete in eight. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
'Grandma' Claudia Pechstein skates into 8th Olympics

By Beth Harris Jan. 14, 2022 02:05 AM EST

FILE - This Thursday, April 4, 2019 file photo shows a view of the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held at the current San Siro stadium, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala announced Friday Oct. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Milan mayor: 2026 ceremony will be held in old San Siro

Oct. 29, 2021 01:25 PM EDT

Sofia Goggia of Italy waits for the start of the first training prior the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season in Soelden, Austria, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. The Alpine Skiing World Cup season 2021/22 will be opened this weekend in Soelden, the traditional start of the FIS Ski World Cup. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Goggia, Moioli to carry Italy's flag at Olympic ceremonies

Oct. 22, 2021 08:07 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2021, file photo, fireworks illuminate over National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, in Tokyo. When the Tokyo Olympics began during a worsening pandemic, the majority of the host nation was in opposition, with Emperor Naruhito dropping the word “celebrating” from his opening declaration of welcome. But once the Games got underway and local media switched to covering Japanese athletes' “medal rush,” many were won over. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
Tokyo's Olympic fears give way to acceptance, to a point

By Mari Yamaguchi Aug. 11, 2021 09:16 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 14, 2021 file photo, Simone Biles walks to her gate for her flight to the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo as United Airlines employees wave flags during a send-off event for the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team at the San Francisco International Airport. Biles and Naomi Osaka are prominent young Black women under the pressure of a global Olympic spotlight that few human beings ever face. But being a young Black woman -- which, in American life, comes with its own built-in pressure to perform -- entails much more than meets the eye. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
Fewer medals, more heart for US at a most unusual Olympics

By Eddie Pells Aug. 08, 2021 09:50 PM EDT

Athletes arrive during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Mixed bag: Erratic Pandemic Olympics come to a nuanced end

By Ted Anthony Aug. 08, 2021 02:18 AM EDT

Players from the United States react after defeating Brazil to win the gold medal in women's volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Olympic Latest: Bach declares Tokyo Olympics officially over

Aug. 07, 2021 08:30 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 8, 2021, file photo, a giant flag flies at the Eiffel Tower during a a test flight in Paris. A giant flag will be flown from the Eiffel Tower like this one on Sunday, Aug. 8, during the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony that 2024 Paris Olympics organizers claim will be the biggest ever seen. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File)
Giant flag to fly from Eiffel Tower for 2024 Paris Olympics

Aug. 06, 2021 02:15 AM EDT

Stephenie Mcpherson, right, of Jamaica, reacts after winning a women's 400-meter semifinal as Allyson Felix, of the United States, looks on, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Olympic Latest: Canada wins 1st gold in women's soccer

Aug. 05, 2021 08:36 PM EDT

Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy celebrates after winning the final of the men's 100-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Cameron Spencer/Pool Photo via AP)
Jacobs to carry Italy's flag at closing ceremony of Olympics

Aug. 05, 2021 01:43 AM EDT

A woman with her dog walks past the Olympic rings in Tokyo, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Athlete protests remain banned at Tokyo Olympics, IOC says

Apr. 21, 2021 04:10 PM EDT