Japan's Tsukimi Namiki, right, and Colombia's Ingrit Lorena Valencia Victoria hug each other after their women's flyweight boxing quarterfinal at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 1, 2021, at Kokugikan Arena. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Athletes from Japan and abroad expressed gratitude to the people who helped make the Tokyo Olympics possible, including the Japanese public, as the pandemic-hit games drew to a close on Sunday.

       "I won't forget that I was able to stand on the Olympic stage I've yearned for thanks to a lot of support and cooperation. I'm really, really thankful," tweeted boxer Tsukimi Namiki, who won bronze in the women's featherweight.

       Risa Shimizu of the Japanese women's soccer team thanked medical workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as volunteers and staff at the athletes' village and hotels.

       Overseas athletes were placed under strict activity constraints during their time in Japan but acknowledged the difficulty the host nation faced in hosting such a huge event during the pandemic.

       "I know the people of Japan persevered and sacrificed a lot for the games to take place, even after a year's postponement," said Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian, who set an Asian record of 9.83 seconds in the men's 100-meter semifinals.

       "It's a sign of the strength of the Japanese people and gave us a platform to perform. As athletes, we have to be very thankful for that."

       British track cyclist Laura Kenny, who won gold and silver at the Izu Velodrome, also praised the host after bearing her country's flag at the closing ceremony.

       "Just a massive thank you. There were lots of questions about whether it could or should happen, and I am just so glad and so grateful that they could make it happen," she said.

       "As athletes we train for so long, and on a wider scale I know people's health is more important, but being able to do this and put a bit of happiness into people's lives is what it's all about."

       Most of the events took place before empty seats during the games and Japanese men's hockey player Kaito Tanaka hoped the nation could welcome Olympians under different circumstances.

       "I hope athletes who came to Japan from around the world will come back to Japan again once the pandemic subsides," he said.

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