2008 Beijing Summer Games, which began on August 8 with an opening ceremony attended by 91,000 spectators, concluded on August 24, 2008 with the closing ceremony held in the Beijing National Stadium. Began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time (UTC+8), the closing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries from around the world, Finnish President Tarja Halonen being one among them.
Singers Wei Wei and Sun Nan, with their touching farewell song, gave an emotional climax to the ceremony, even as Bird's Nest was turned into a splendor of vibrant color and music.
China had every reason to cheer, as its telling performance in the Games payed the dividend and the host country, with its 50 Gold medals, topped the list of contenders.
In the closing ceremony venue, along with flags of Greece and China, there was the Union Jack, the national flag of next host country. Later the Olympic flag was lowered and carried over to the Mayor of Beijing, Guo Jinlong, in a ceremonious fashion. The Mayor then handed it over to the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge.
Keeping in line with the protocol, the IOC president then passed the Flag on to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. London will host the Games in 2012.
For final medal tally of Beijing Summer Games, click here.
Closing Ceremony Protocol
The closing ceremony must take place in the stadium after the end of all the events. The flag bearers of the participating delegations and the name-board-bearers enter the stadium in single file. Behind them march the athletes, without distinction of nationality.
The flag bearers then form a semi-circle behind the rostrum.
The President of the IOC and the President of the OCOG mount the rostrum. To the sounds of the Greek national anthem, the Greek flag is hoisted on the flagpole that stands to the right of the central flagpole used for the winners' flags. The flag of the host country is then hoisted on the central flagpole, while its anthem is played. Finally, the flag of the host country of the next Olympic Games is hoisted on the lefthand flagpole to the strains of its anthem.
The mayor of the host city joins the President of the IOC on the rostrum and returns to him the Olympic flag. The president of the
IOC then entrusts it to the mayor of the host city of the following Olympic Games. This flag must be displayed in the latter city's main municipal building.
After an address by the President of the OCOG, the President of the IOC gives the closing speech of the Olympic Games, which he ends with these words:
"I declare the Games of the ... Olympiad closed and, in accordance with
tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from
now at ... to celebrate with us there the Games of the ... Olympiad".
A fanfare then sounds; the Olympic flame is extinguished, and while the Olympic anthem is being played, the Olympic flag is slowly lowered from the flagpole and, unfurled horizontally, carried out of the arena, followed by the flag bearers. A farewell song resounds.
