Rio 2007 Closing Ceremony

Here are a few reviews of the Rio 2007 Closing Ceremony which brought the XV Pan American Games to a close yesterday in Rio de Janeiro. The picture above of performers forming the Rio 2007 logo appeared in a slide show at GloboEsportes.com:

A flamboyant closing ceremony capped two weeks of sport.

The Pan American Games had excellent venues and glossy ceremonies.

–BBC News

Fireworks lit the sky and samba shook the ground Sunday night as Rio de Janeiro ended the 15th Pan American Games, whose success could boost Brazil’s status as a host of global sporting events. Samba dancers concluded the spectacle of the games that Rio de Janeiro hoped would show the world Brazil has the credentials to host the 2014 World Cup — and maybe even an Olympics.

Despite chilly weather, it was a gala ending to the hemisphere-wide event, which drew some 5,500 athletes from 42 countries, as well as 2,000 delegation members, 3,000 journalists and 15,000 volunteers.

–International Herald Tribune

The 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro ended under the full moon Sunday, while fireworks shook giant Maracana Stadium as if an earthquake rumbled below.

–Around the Rings

The ceremonies and sports production of the XV Pan American Games were produced by FiveCurrents. An official press release on Rio 2007’s web site details many aspects of the Closing Ceremony