Olympic closing ceremonies
FILE - The Olympic Rings light up the stadium during opening ceremonies for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2006. 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 Soccer 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/Kevork Djansezian, Pool, File)
AP Exclusive: Balich leads Olympics-style World Cup ceremony

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

FILE - Japanese then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, right, with other delegates, celebrate after Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, in Buenos Aires, Argentine on Sept. 7, 2013. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the country’s central figure in landing the 2020 Olympics for Tokyo. Abe died after being shot while campaigning in western Japan on July 8, 2022.. (Kyodo News via AP, File)
Abe impersonated 'Super Mario' to promote Tokyo Olympics

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

A man uses his phone to film a screen outside a mall showing a live broadcast of the fireworks explode over the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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 - Mark McMorris of Canada competes during the men's snowboard big air finals of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong. File)
After Beijing bubble bursts, can the IOC save the Olympics?

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

Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, right, of the United States, react after competing in the pairs free skate program during the figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 19, 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

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)
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 July 23, 2021, file photo, anti-Olympic protesters demonstrate near the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan where the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics is taking place. A lot of Japanese were reluctant or opposed to holding the Olympics during a worsening pandemic. A series of resignations of Olympic-linked officials over sexism, past bullying and Holocaust jokes also hurt the Games' image ahead of the July 23 opening. There were protests on Tokyo streets and on social media. (AP Photo/Kantaro Komiya, File)
Tokyo's Olympic fears give way to acceptance, to a point

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

Kara Winger, of the United States of America, center, arrives to the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Fewer medals, more heart for US at a most unusual Olympics

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

The Russian Olympic Committee athletes pose for a photo during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Mixed bag: Erratic Pandemic Olympics come to a nuanced end

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

Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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

United State's Gable Dan Steveson celebrates after defeating Georgia's Gennadij Cudinovic during their men's freestyle 125kg wrestling final match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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

Tokyo Olympics creative director Hiroshi Sasaki, a former advertising executive with Japan's powerful public relations and advertising agency Dentsu, Inc., attends a news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2020. Sasaki is resigning Wednesday, March 17, 2021, after making demeaning comments about a well-known female celebrity. It is yet another setback for the postponed games and another involving comments about women. The Olympics are to open in just over four months, dogged by the pandemic, record costs, and numerous scandals. (Kyodo News via AP)
Tokyo Olympics: Yet another scandal over sexist comments

By Stephen Wade And Yuri Kageyama Mar. 17, 2021 09:19 PM EDT