SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- The Pan American Games came to an end Sunday night amid tributes to the Dominican Republic's success in pulling off the biggest event in its history.

"There is no small nation when there is pride and determination," Pan American Sports Organization president Mario Vazquez Rana said. "Today we reached the finish line of these great and wonderful games. Thank you to the Dominican Republic."

After the playing of the Dominican national anthem, the Olympic and Dominican flags were lowered, then the Pan Ams torch was extinguished -- to be lit again in four years in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian flag was raised, and Brazil's anthem was played. Rio's mayor, Cesar Maia, accepted the PASO flag from a Santo Domingo official and then kissed the flag.

A giant tarp with a panorama of Rio was spread across the field. It was described by the public-address announcer as the largest image ever printed on a banner.

Then fireworks were set off above the stadium as dancers entered in festive costumes, staging their own version of "Carnaval."

Earlier, thousands of games volunteers dressed in Pan Ams polo shirts entered Olympic Stadium and circled the track.

Each nation's flag bearer, including archer Glenn Meyers of Grand Rapids, Mich., for the United States, then entered.

The U.S. team captains picked Meyers, who won a gold medal in team archery and an individual bronze he was not allowed to collect because of the no-sweep rule. The 42-year-old has been a fixture in archery for two decades and competed in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

After the flag bearers came the athletes, country by country, with the Dominican Republic receiving a resounding ovation at the end.

Several officials carried a sign saying "Mision Completa (Mission Accomplished)."

"This represents an advance for this country," said Jose Ramon Suarez de Jesus, a Dominican government employee. "Millions of people have come for these games, and the whole world has come to know the Dominican Republic. We have demonstrated this country can compete with the world."

The near-capacity crowd in the 35,000-seat stadium was entertained by video highlights of performances by Dominican athletes. Miss Universe, Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic, capped the ceremony, riding in on a butterfly float wearing a red formal dress and tiara. The float carried her through the lined-up volunteers before she descended and was presented a commemorative gold medal by the organizing committee.

"This is very important because the games are not usually here and our athletes can now be celebrated internationally," said Santo Domingo resident Stephannie Baez, 20. "But before they might not have participated in the games, and this is good preparation for the Olympics.

"We didn't believe we were going to do so well. I hope there will be more interest and that we can show we can compete with the world. These games showed we can. We didn't know before."