On Sunday evening the curtain fell on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. But before the lights went out Brazil partied hard, with organisers sending athletes home in style. Amid the fireworks and dancing and music, we couldn’t help but think of our other favourite fiesta: Eurovision. Here are some of the moments that caught our attention…

A cameo from Serhat

Brazilians regard Alberto Santos-Dumont as the father of aviation. Eurovision fans regard Serhat as the father of the disco. After the Closing Ceremony, we now think the Turkish singer invented flight.

Douwe Bob’s massive clock

The Dutch singer told us to “Slow Down” at Eurovision, singing his ditty on top of a giant LED clock. We took his message to heart, so took our time when taking a screengrab of this enormous clock on the floor of Maracana Stadium. 

Eurovision 2016’s catwalk queens

If you watched the Parade of Contestants at Eurovision, then you’ll remember the sight of catwalk models wearing paper outfits that resembled IKEA light fixtures. Rio totes recycled them — albeit after a major dye job. The colour change made them look less like models and more like fruit and veg, but that’s cool too.

Anouk’s birds

Some saw Anouk. Others saw Greta Salome. Either way, these black birds were soulful, folksy and worked every inch of the ground.

Armenia’s diaspora

Geneology’s LED floor captured the turmoil that sent the Armenian diaspora fleeing all over the world. Rio’s LED was all about honouring African culture and the black community’s contributions to Brazil. Both were stunning and artistic, and made us want to stare down rather than look up.

Not My Soul realness

It’s not all about ESC. One musical segment made us think of Malta’s most recent Junior Eurovision winner Destiny Chukunyere.

Love, love, peace, peace

Every year at Eurovision the team from wiwibloggs gathers photos of crazy-ass Eurovision fans waving flags and dressing up in the most colourful of costumes as they get ready for the show. We couldn’t help but think of that passion and love when watching the athletes march (and dance) into the stadium.

Ruth Lorenzo gets wet

Honestly, we swear that was her dancing in the rain at the very end…

What moments reminded YOU of Eurovision? Let us know in the comments box below. And if you missed our story on the Opening Ceremony’s links to Eurovision, just click here.

Read more of our Eurovision lists

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Almanakut Brasil
Almanakut Brasil
7 years ago

South of Brazil, most like of Europe (life, country, travel)

http://www.city-data.com/forum/americas/1945812-south-brazil-most-like-europe.html

Almanakut Brasil
Almanakut Brasil
7 years ago

Alberto Santos-Dumont – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wristwatch

In 1904, Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier about the difficulty of checking his pocket watch to time his performance during flight. Santos-Dumont then asked Cartier to come up with an alternative that would allow him to keep both hands on the controls. The result was the first Cartier men’s wristwatch, with a leather band and a small buckle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Santos-Dumont

Pollaski 3: Rise of the Machines
Pollaski 3: Rise of the Machines
7 years ago

I think any international event that pompously takes itself too seriously and is overwrought with false symbolism can compare itself to Eurovision.

🙂

Still, props to Wiwibloggs for trying to keep things interesting during the long dead season for Eurovision. The Olympics helped fill the void, as will now college football (although in truth for me, Eurovision fills the college football void, not the other way around).

Speaking of which, if you live in Australia, go watch Cal-Hawaii. Buy a ticket. Hawaii needs money badly.

Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
7 years ago

Must be a slow news day.

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
7 years ago

no.

Thiefo
Thiefo
7 years ago

Did the closing ceremony remind me of Eurovision? Haha… no? The ONLY thing I do agree on is when they extinguished the cauldron with the rain, it did remind me of Ruth. Just like with the opening ceremony I think you guys are trying too hard to compare Eurovision to everything 😛 But what am I saying? This is an ESC-related site after all, it’s your job hah! Btw, yes the ceremonies this time were a lot more simple and tame compared to other years, just take in consideration the low budget from the Brazilians, and even so, I quite… Read more »

Your Name*
Your Name*
7 years ago

No Olympics can beat London! As they were the best ever! That’s why I wish the ESC will come to London. To be the best ever!

Mark
Mark
7 years ago

Come on guys. The Olympics have nothing to do with Eurovision. Stop trying to piggy back of other organisations success.

Hello hi
Hello hi
7 years ago

Found both the opening and closing ceremonies disappointing .. Repetitive and no real drama or excitement , eurovision is a lot more exciting and better produced ..I only enjoyed the Tokyo handover sequence from last night and believe that 2020 will be the greatest olympics ever .

Maclaren
Maclaren
7 years ago

We lived in Rio for three years and I still remember the awe and amazement and astonishment of seeing Rio carnival on sambodrom. With due respect to Eurovision, Rio carnival outshines it due to a sheer mass of the happening when hundreds of samba club members as well as simple favella dwellers move as one thing for an hour (each school took roughly an hour to complete the routine). But Eurovision has its fun and boutique size entertainment which is not worse but different

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

The design of the Olympic flame reminded me of the moving artwork from Vienna 2015. But I think you guys might have referenced that in the article about the opening ceremony.
Rio2016 has given me the travel bug….looks like such a beautiful city!!! I need to go there like right now 🙂