The five Olympic rings floating on a barge in Tokyo Bay were removed on Thursday for what is being called "maintenance," and officials say they will return to greet next year's Games.

The rings have been in the bay since early this year, arriving to symbolize the Games that were to have been taking place this week with the original closing ceremony set for Sunday. The five Olympic rings are gigantic. They stand 15.3 meters high — about 50 feet tall — and are 32.6 meters from end to end — about 100 feet in length.