MEDIA outlets across the world have given the closing ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games their seal of approval, with newspapers, websites and TV stations praising the show at Hampden.
TVNZ in New Zealand said: "All 2,500 volunteers and the athletes are surrounding the star shape stage to give the show a real festival feel. What a shame about the weather. It's grey and wet but hey - this is Scotland!"
India.com said: "The ceremony .... got off to a rocking start with Scottish music artists singing their smash hits," while The Times of India said: "As Glasgow basks in the afterglow of hosting a popular 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games, Scotland's largest city can reflect on a job well done." However, the website News.au gave a thumbs down to the handover ceremony which saw the baton passed to the City of Gold Coast, due to host the Games in 2018.
It said that the segment had been "cringeworthy" and a "snorefest of a farewell to the Games", adding "For the most part, the Australian segment of the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony had us desperately searching for the mute button."
More attention was paid to the Australian steeplechase runner Genevieve LaCaze, who joined dancers on the stage during singer Kylie Minogue's performance.
LaCaze, who said she was celebrating her 25th birthday and got carried away, became an internet sensation after dancing on stage for more than a minute before security guards realised she wasn't part of the show, says she did not realise her impromptu stunt would have such an international reaction.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed weightlifter Dika Toua of Papa New Guinea has been awarded a gold after Nigerian Chika Amalaha tested positive of using a banned substance.
Toua was awarded the Gold Medal for the 53kg Women's Weightlifting Division at a medal ceremonin the Games Village.
The mother of two's gold follows her silver medal win at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
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