Chinese authorities are planning COVID-19 mitigation measures for next year's Beijing Winter Games that are "expected to go far beyond those taken" in Tokyo, the New York Times reports.
Why it matters: The Tokyo Olympics ended Sunday with over 400 infections reported. While spectators were banned from the Games and other strict protocols were in place, "enforcement was haphazard, and news outlets found many violations," the Times notes.
Tokyo — More than a year after they were set to begin, and 17 days after their delayed start, the Tokyo Olympics drew to an end on Sunday with the closing ceremony here at Olympic Stadium.
Why it matters: Although COVID-19 delayed the Games and left an indelible mark, organizers hope the Games have left a legacy beyond the disease.
The U.S. women's indoor volleyball team beat Brazil in three straight sets to win their Olympic final game and clinch Team USA the Tokyo Games' top spot for gold medals on Sunday.
Of note: The 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 win marked the first ever Olympic gold medal for the U.S. women's indoor volleyball team.
Team USA's Jennifer Valente won the Olympic gold medal in the women's cycling omnium event on Sunday.
The big picture: Japan's Yumi Kajihara won silver and the Netherlands' Kirsten Wild took bronze. It was Valente's second Tokyo Games medal, after winning bronze Tuesday in the team pursuit.
Germany's modern pentathlon national team coach Kim Raisner was disqualified from the Tokyo Olympic Games Saturday for punching a horse during competition.
Driving the news: The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) said in a statement the sport's governing body gave Kim Raisner a "black card" that rules her out of the remainder of the Olympics, after officials viewed video footage from Friday's showjumping round of the women's modern pentathlon event.
President Biden told U.S. Olympians during a virtual meeting Saturday evening that they "made me so damn proud" and invited the athletes to visit the White House in the fall.
Driving the news: "You handled yourself with such grace and such decency," Biden told the athletes, noting during the call from his home near Wilmington, Delaware, alongside first lady Jill Biden, they had to overcome disruptions like the pandemic, which delayed the Tokyo Olympic Games by a year.
