See All the Most Incredible Photos from the Tokyo Olympics

Despite empty stands and tight restrictions, the 2020/2021 Tokyo Games were as much of a spectacle as any other year. Originally scheduled for summer 2020, the Olympics plans were disrupted drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And in the past two weeks, with much of Japan’s population—and that of the rest of the world—still unvaccinated, the events proceeded with many restrictions. Athletes were encouraged to arrive soon before and depart almost immediately after their competition, and there were almost no spectators at most of the events.

While the expected skepticism towards safety measures and other Olympic operations cast a more somber shadow on the games, each competition played out with fierce competition as athletics broke records, shattered stereotypes, and created some heartwarming moments. The Olympics brought together 11,000 athletes from 200 countries—participating in 33 sports—and the games proceeded unlike any year before. As the games officially came to a close, we rounded up all the best photos from the 2020/2021 Tokyo Games below.