For the last time, let's return to Prime Time last night--
More track finals. You can tell that a long event like the 1500m is not very interesting when NBC drops the start into a video box, surrounded by upcoming events and an ad for VISA. We continue to see different countries win (Norway would never be considered to be a track power, and yet they won).
We got another insta-ad from Comcast featuring Allyson Felix's win in the 4x400 relay, minutes after the race. Felix now has 11 medals, the most of any US track and field athlete, passing Carl Lewis. This was her 5th games, going back to Athens. More team sports and a rare look (in terms of broadcast) of boxing ran out the clock last night.
Speaking of boxing, a recent QISEOC vote has given their board the power to remove sports from the games. Up the this point, this duty was shared with the international sports bodies. Observers predict that boxing and weightlifting will get the boot, based on recurring issues of doping. (If they treated all sports equally, most probably would).
The final afternoon begins with track cycling. This sport seems to make the process more complicated each games, as if they purposely want to push audiences away. Now there's some sort of points process. Why not just who can bike the fastest?
Then it's the group rhythmic gymnastics final, with five members on the floor throwing and catching various implements while dancing around. It has to be like clockwork, or they lose points. I guess it's off to Cirque du Soleil after this. There was (as Rebecca Lowe put it) a ConTROvesy during the event, which you can translate as: the Russkies are mad they didn't win. Sit down and take more steroids, Commies!
There's a tradition at NBC to include a documentary involving the host country on the final day of the games. We got one, involving dual fishing towns in Japan and California, who came together after a devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan sent a boat all the way to the US west coast. The California town has also experienced a tsunami in the 1960's.
After more team sports, Tirico interviewed the head of the QISEOC--basically, "Everything went great!". Jimmy Roberts checked in for the last time, with a report on time--a lifetime spent training for a few minutes or even seconds actually competing (to be honest, it was rather generic).
After a rerun of the women's volleyball final, Lowe interviewed the head of the Paris 2024 QISEOC. I read that they plan to make a "public" games--sending the opening ceremonies all over the city, bringing in the athletes on boats on the Seine, holding a second Marathon for the public the same day after the actual event. They really want to show off the town. This will be the City of Light's third run at the games (they did it in 1900 and 1924).
They ran out the afternoon clock with a long credit roll, including the "Friends and Family" unit. This must be the group that coordinated the live remotes at athlete's homes, bars, clubs, etc.
The final Prime Time coverage kicked off with Torico on the dock, throwing it to a one hour review--"Tokyo Gold". It included a preview of the ParaQISEic games, starting in 2 weeks. Finally, it's the Closing Ceremonies with Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir, and Terry Gannon hosting. Weir in particular was professional and articulate, despite his flamboyant outfit. They interviewed the US flagbearer as she was doing her job. They vamped as the athletes wandered into the stadium. There was a ska band, trick cyclists, dancers, and jugglers. A woman dressed as a tree. Some traditional Japanese singing--when does Mothra fly in? Pomp and circumstance.
Paris had a presentation for the games of 2024. Musicians playing the national anthem around the city (and in space), athletes on the rooftops, break-dancers (which will be a sport), a huge throng surrounding French QISE champions, and a jet fly-by. The Rock stopped by. A scene from a Japanese production of the Sound of Music preceded the dousing of the flame. Arigato! Tirico ties a bow on it.
That'll do it. See you in 6 months in Beijing for the Winter QISE.