MANILA, Philippines – Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday morning (Manila time) surprised the crowd at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics, emerging on a green pipe dressed as the popular video game character Super Mario.
Abe appeared at the stage of the Maracana stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil after the teaser of Tokyo, Japan 2020 Olympics was played. The said video, titled “Warming up!”, portrayed the prime minister as Super Mario.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic teaser also highlighted sports as well as the Japanese pop culture and its animated characters Doraemon, Hello Kitty, and Pac-Man, among others.
Tokyo is slated to host the Summer Games in 2020. Abe received the Olympic flag to formalize the turnover.
Abe arrived in Rio de Janeiro on August 21 to thank Japanese athletes for their performance at the Rio 2016 Games. The Japanese delegation won a total of 41 medals, with 12 golds, eight silvers and 21 bronzes.
Watch how Abe drew the crowd's attention:
#Tokyo2020 already stepping the game up!!! pic.twitter.com/HBbDZCAztS
— . (@lmfaofa) August 22, 2016
That was just a glimpse, see you in Tokyo in 2020! #RiotoTokyo pic.twitter.com/JJtVPX5Zis
— Tokyo 2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 22, 2016
.@Tokyo2020 here we come! #RioToTokyo pic.twitter.com/cyidw24TVr
— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) August 22, 2016