The 2020 Summer Olympic Games are headed to Tokyo, Japan, and the closing ceremony for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highlighted the transition in the best possible way. Now, we know Japan is home to all sorts of great and iconic video game characters, but you don’t expect that to come up when something so official is announced. Yet that’s exactly what Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister, did.
During the closing ceremonies, Abe was given an opportunity to perform a brief demonstration. It began with a video, in which Mario was holding a red ball and jumping into a green pipe in Tokyo. The other end of the pipe was on stage in Rio, and Abe came out of it in a Mario costume, holding the same ball. The outfit tore away, and he waved the familiar hat to members of the crowd.
In case you missed it, here’s a video.
Now that’s a great way to get people hyped for the next Olympics! I wonder if this means special Nintendo merchandise related to the event? I mean, there is that Mario & Sonic Olympic game series!