Global News Insight takes a look at how Olympians from the Middle East and North Africa fared at the Tokyo Olympics.
![Gold medalist Barshim of Qatar celebrates with his team after winning (and sharing) gold in the men's high jump at the 2020 Olympics [Cameron Spencer/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AP21213481101512.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
Closing ceremony in Tokyo echoes restraint of Olympics held without spectators due to the COVID pandemic.
![For the first time ever, the closing ceremony featured live celebrations from the next host city as the people of Paris welcomed the handover of the Olympic flag [Antonio Bronic/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-08T135524Z_1574546307_SP1EH8811I6M7_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-CEREMONY-CLOSING.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
Sexualisation, policing of testosterone and underrepresentation of women in top sports jobs are just some of the issues.
![Runners compete in a heat of the 4 x 400m mixed relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo [Charlie Riedel/ AP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AP21211415742140.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
Tokyo 2020 Olympics marked by pandemic and by political, sporting, and personal turmoil draws to a close.
![The Tokyo 2020 Olympics closing ceremony ends a unique Games. [Toby Melville/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-08T131925Z_45378019_SP1EH881108KG_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-CEREMONY-CLOSING.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
Eliud Kipchoge cements legacy, becoming only the third man to win consecutive marathon titles.
Unconscious Sajad Ganjzadeh awarded +75kg men’s gold for Iran as Saudi Arabia’s Tareg Hamedi disqualified for high kick.
Neeraj Chopra wins men’s javelin gold for India, as the Tokyo 2020 athletics competition draws to a close.
Activists say the sports are incidental to the money-making opportunities offered by the extravaganza.
Substitute Malcom strikes an extra-time goal to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over Spain in Yokohama.
Family of a player targeted by youth, saying Dalits in the team were to blame for the bronze-medal play-off.
The US capture a fourth straight Olympic gold medal after beating France.
Canada win women’s football gold, while Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon beats Sifan Hassan retaining women’s 1,500 metres title.
Two-time world half marathon champion came out on top in close race with world record holder and compatriot.
Olympics governing body cancels accreditation of two Belarusian coaches after failed bid to force sprinter home.
![Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge celebrates after winning the men's marathon final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Sapporo on August 8, 2021 [Giuseppe Cacace/ AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/000_9KR27J.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Gold medallist Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran, right, and silver medallist Tareg Hamedi of Saudi Arabia pose on the podium [Annegret Hilse/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-07T131153Z_1701609349_SP1EH8710NQCM_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-KTE-M-O75KG-MEDAL.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Chopra of India, 23, claimed men's javelin gold with an 87.58-metre throw at the Olympic Stadium [Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-07T140747Z_47182611_SP1EH871259ML_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-ATH-M-JAVELIN-FNL.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Protesters in Canada started the 'Poverty Olympics Torch Relay' using a toilet plunger in place of an Olympic torch [File: Barbara Walton/EPA]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/h_02021005.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Brazil, who won gold on home soil at Rio 2016, became the fifth team to retain their Olympic crown [Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/000_9KQ34C.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![The Indian women's team registered its best ever Olympic performance by finishing fourth [Bernadett Szabo/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-06T032539Z_1408926629_SP1EH8609INNU_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-HOC-W-TEAM11-FNL-000200.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![The US men have now won four straight gold medals at the Olympics [Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-07T043500Z_1025548034_MT1USATODAY16526419_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-BASKETBALL-MEN-FINALS-GOLD-MEDAL-MATCH.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Italy celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 4x100 metres relay final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics [James Lang/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-06T143907Z_135791691_MT1USATODAY16522153_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-ATHLETICS-AUG-6-EVENING-SESSION.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya celebrates after winning the Olympic marathon gold on Saturday [Feline Lim/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-06T235928Z_2126271746_SP1EH861UN04S_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-ATH-W-MARATHON-FNL.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
![Tsimanouskaya flew to Poland, where she and her husband have been granted humanitarian visas [Darek Golik/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-08-05T134756Z_1528413606_RC21ZO98R18G_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-BELARUS-POLAND.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)