The closing ceremony for Rio 2016 "was passing off as expected" until Japan PM Shinzo Abe "popped out of a giant green pipe dressed up as video game character Mario from the Super Mario games, one of Japan's best-known exports," according to the BBC. It was then "the world got a clue" that, for Tokyo 2020, the next Olympic hosts "would take full and shameless advantage of Japan's pop culture icons." The Tokyo 2020 video "beamed to audiences in Rio showed Mario running excitedly around Tokyo then jumping into his famous green pipe." Cue "the slow rise of the green pipe in Rio with a hunched Mario-like figure perched on top." Japan's PM, not famous for his extrovert displays and pop culture references, "emerges dressed as Mario and doffs his hat to enthusiastic crowds, then setting social media alight." The parade ended with Abe "holding aloft a now glowing red ball, Japan's rising sun" (BBC, 8/22).
'MOST IMPRESSIVE MOMENT': YONHAP reported 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics Chief Organizer Lee Hee-beom singled out the "low-cost, high-efficiency" opening ceremony as the "most impressive moment" of the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games. Lee said that "he has learned a great deal from Rio, in particular its low-budget opening ceremony that still drew high praise for substance and style." Rio reportedly spent about $21M on the opening ceremony production, "about half of what London spent on its show in 2012." Lee said, "The Olympic opening ceremonies to this day have served as the stage for the host nations to showcase their prowess. Such a trend reached its peak in Sochi (in '14), but with the Rio Olympics, I felt a big budget isn't always the way to go. I learned that creative ideas should take precedence over money."
Lee said that he also "learned the importance of language proficiency among volunteers, many of whom in Rio didn't speak English." Lee: "I've traveled to every corner of Rio, and I'll make sure PyeongChang won't make the same mistakes" (YONHAP, 8/21). KYODO reported Lee "promised tight security and quick and easy access to venues when the South Korean city hosts the event in 2018." Lee said, "Security is one of our priority issues. We have very well-trained security people and we are cooperating with government authorities, with the ministry of national security. I can guarantee that PyeongChang 2018 will be a very secure event, not only for athletes, but for all the participants" (KYODO, 8/22).
