Rio Closing Ceremony: Party Seen Around the World

(ATR) Preparations for the biggest party in Brazil will begin on Saturday following the men's football final.

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Fireworks are seen during the
Fireworks are seen during the Opening ceremony for Rio 2016 Olympic games at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. / AFP / YASUYOSHI CHIBA (Photo credit should read YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)

(ATR) Producer Marco Balich says his crew will spend 12 hours to set-up for the Rio 2016 Olympics closing ceremony after Brazil and Germany battle for men’s football gold on Saturday.

But he is promising a good time for both the viewer and the athletes when the last act of the Games begins at 8 p.m. Rio time.

Balich told Around the Rings that the Sunday night Maracana extravaganza will be based on the theme of a spontaneous, social media-organized bloco, a traditional Rio street parade and party. It will be more lighthearted than the opening ceremony, which explored environmental and social themes.

The show is planned for two hours and 33 minutes, including a 45-minute parade of athletes.

"The athletes will come together, we will involve them in a very big party," Balich said.

"They will sit around, then we will throw a big party inside, and then we ask them to join in. They will see 65% of the show."

It will be the end of a three-year creative journey for Balich, the Milan-based producer of mega-event spectacles.

"We leave with good memories here," Balich said. "(Brazil is) a nation of good people. They’re very open, they’re very nice, they’re very patient."

Homepage photo: Getty Images

Written by Bob Mackin in Rio de Janeiro.

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