WATCH: Usain Bolt delivers in role of Rio's Olympic saviour

Overshadowed by interminable drug test controversies and overlooked by the benevolent figure of Christ the Redeemer, the Rio Olympics spread its arms wide open to embrace its true saviour on Sunday night.

With cheers for the chosen one and boos for cartoon villain Justin Gatlin, a city that had been slow on the uptake for athletics saved its carnival spirit for arguably the greatest ringmaster the sport has known.