Was Rio 2016 a Success?
ANDERSON: Going out with a bang, well, several. Fireworks lit up the sky over Rio as the 2016 Summer Games came to an end. 19 days, 306 competitions and 42 sporting disciplines. These games have already made history as the first to be held in South America. Live from New York, you're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson. Welcome back. The smooth running of the closing ceremony was a stark contrast to the troubled lead-up to the games, wasn't it? Rio 2016 organizers had to contend with an international doping schedule, not to mention fears over the Zika virus and worries over security at Olympic sites. By many accounts, Brazil seems to have carried it off. For his view, let's bring Christopher Clarey. He's the global sports columnist from The New York Times, and joins us from Rio as he winds up his work there for the time being. Before we talk, Chris, about how Brazil did, an update on the event that certainly served to cast a shadow over the games, but not one that the host country had any involvement with or control over. Speedo USA has announced a decision to end its sponsorship of Ryan Lochte, the swimmer who has been held to account for his, let's say, activities and the way he explained himself over one evening in Brazil. What's your response to Speedo's announcement today?</s>CHRISTOPHER CLAREY, NEW YORK TIMES: It's not surprising at all. And I would say that, you know, in a way the Brazilians did effect this this, because they're the ones who so aggressively pursued the story and the claims after they were made by Ryan about there being a robbery and a theft. And I think their swift action, which was surely out of their own interest to show this was not the case, made a difference in this coming to light. And the fact that Ryan lost his sponsorships, considering how his reputation has taken a hit in the U.S. and globally, it's not surprising.</s>ANDERSON: All right. Let's replay just some of those scenes from that closing ceremony, which showcased Brazil's history and culture, a giant parrot float, an arresting sight for many. While an array of dancers and routines of various styles attested to Brazil's right and multi-layered artistic heritage, or certainly this was how it was explained, the ceremony even included a striking monochrome tribute to Brazil's lace making tradition. The host nation, it seems, seizing the opportunity to show itself off to the world. Carnival-esque is how your paper described the closing show. Even so, the stadium dotted with empty seats. And that was the story, wasn't it, during much of the event. Why did spectators stay away in Rio?</s>CLAREY: Well, first of all, you got a lot of tickets to sell in an Olympics. It's a tough economic time here. And I'm sure they had a problem with the foreign tourism coming in because of all the negativity, and the drum beat coming in. So, I think all those factors played in. And I think where you really saw it the most was at the athletics, the track and field, half the stadium was full a lot of times at best. And it was because it maybe an out-of-the-way place, not a sport with a great deal of culture and back ground here in Brazil. So, I think all those factors played in. But it definitely hurt the competition.</s>ANDERSON: A wasteful event that worked out, the words of one local columnist reacting to a poll suggesting that over half of those asked actually thought the Olympics generated a more positive image of the country. Do you agree with that?</s>CLAREY: You know, it's a really hard thing to judge right away. I think you need to take a look at maybe a few months, a year or two from now and get a real sense. But there's no doubt that considering how low expectations were and how much doomsaying there was this, Becky, I think that people would view it as a qualified success. I also feel like it's a bit of a pity that we've come to the point that disaster, not having a disaster is success. I mean, there was no major issue, major problem, but a lot of things went wrong here. But what didn't go wrong were the athletes and the sports. And that was mostly uplifting and some tremendous performances here over the last 17 days.</s>ANDERSON: Yeah, you're absolutely right. Look, Olympic closing ceremonies frequently a time of generous, if repetitive praise, for the host nations. I just want to go through what we've heard in the past, and how we might respond to them and some context. The Atlanta games in 1996 labeled by then International Olympic Committee chief Juan Antonio Samaranch (ph) as, quote, a most exceptional Olympics. But 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, also exceptional, it seems, a truly exceptional games. Those are the words of Jacques Rogge. IOC chief Thomas Bach got creative, but equally fulsome with his plaudits in Rio: these were marvelous games, he told the Maracana stadium on Sunday. Like, look, we wouldn't expect the heads of the IOC to say anything different. But looking at it with a little bit more detachment, we're suggesting that Brazil did get quite a lot of things right, and particularly the events themselves. Was there anything that future hosts might learn from all of this?</s>CLAREY: I'm sorry. The last thing you said, Becky, again?</s>ANDERSON: What do you think future hosts might learn from Brazil?</s>CLAREY: I'm more interested in what the IOC learns and what they can apply to future hosts. Because I feel like after Sochi and the winter Olympics and all the money that was spent and all the controversy that legitimately generated, and then what's happened here in Rio at a time of real crisis that nobody could have predicted, they need to look at their model. So, I'm curious what the IOC will learn from what's happened in the last two Olympics, winter and summer, and how they look at their own model -- financially, what sort of cities they want to take this to, whether they're going to go to a geographical rotation instead of taking it to new places and whether they'll go to a geographical rotation, instead of taking it to new places and new markets. It needs a real rethink. I've already started this with what they call the agenda 2020. But I think we need an agenda 2024, too, after this.</s>ANDERSON: And to that end, the Paralympics, of course, start in Rio in just over two weeks time. And they have been hit by very low spectator interest, amongst other issues. And there are an awful lot of other issues that the IOC needs to get to grips with. Just have a listen to this.</s>MARIO ANDRADA, 2016 RIO GAMES SPOKESMAN: What has affected the Paralympics in terms of financing was obviously low ticket sales, lack of sponsorship. We understand that with the success -- late success of ticket sales for Olympics, we will be able to sell more Paralympic tickets. So, it's yet to be found how much money will be needed for the Paralympics.</s>ANDERSON: Mario Andrada was speaking there. Christopher, what kind of shape is Paralympic funding in now?</s>CLAREY: This is an unprecedented situation in the modern history of the Paralympics. And I think what's happening here is I think Rio, again, understandably to some degree has a big event fatigue here, both I think in terms of their energy levels and the public support and also in terms of the finances after the World Cup in 2014 and now this massive effort in Rio for the Olympics. So, it's a real shame what could happen. I mean, we're talking stadiums that could be a quarter full or less for some of these events. After the huge success of London, which took the Paralympics to a new level, it's a real shame we're coming to this. And I think it's definitely a byproduct of all the efforts that have been made and had to have been made behind the scenes in the last seven years here in Rio.</s>ANDERSON: With that, we're going to leave you to it today. Well, done. I'm sure you've enjoyed it, but I'm sure it's been tremendously hard work. And thank you for your time during the event on CNN. The latest World News Headlines are just ahead. Plus, for the first time ever, a jihadist stands trial in The Hague for destroying cultural sites. What he had to say about an attack on Timbuktu. Plus, we'll explain why simply doing this has this Olympic athlete saying he now fears for his life. The details on that are ahead. You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson, out of New York this week. Stay with us.