"flame was off, but memories never off" -closing ceremony of OLYMPIC.
BEIJING - the beijing olympic games ended just as they had began yesterday, with a glitering extravaganza as china made full use of one final opurtunity to showcase itself to a world audience.
"the olympic flame is not extinguished, instead, it wil burn in the heart of each of us" was the msg of the performance, acording to Zhang Yimou, artistic director of the opening and closing ceremony, and the final event was certainly one that will live long in the memory.
Although no final rehearsal was posible owing to the men's marathon finishing eight hours earlier, the participants had already been prctising for 12 mths in an efort to ensure all went off without a hitch.
Once Chinese Prsdnt, Hu Jintao, and I.O.C head Jacques Rogge had taken their seats, fireworks countd down to the start of evening's proceedings.
To kick things off, a drum formation involving 200 perfrmers lined up in a circle on the steps of the main stge below two large drums, resembling the trdtional Chinese drum and cmplete with a drummer precariously attached on either side, suspended in mid-air above them.
As the drums began to sound, over 1,000 silver bell dancers, meant to symbolise brightness and luck, entered the arena and cngregatd around the stage as their luminescent outfits sparkled. A series of drum carts, representing the various musicl instrment styles of minority ethnic groups in China, were next to enter the arena along with rotating light wheels manned by a single performer.
However, like a bicycle takin a corner at an acute angle, several had dificulties making the full circuit of the stadium, needing to remount to cntinue their journey. A minor blip on an otherwise flawless evening.
With drum carts making their exit but the performers on the main stage still drumming, it was time for the entrance of the flag-bearers of the 204 cmpeting nations and the remaining athletes left in Beijing, acompanied by hundrds of perpetualy smiling cheerleaders.
Their enthusiasm seemed catching though and there was an aura of cntentment in the arena by the time everythng setled dow again for the men's marathon medal ceremony, with Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru receiving his gold mdal.
A brief thank you ceremony for the volunteers folowd before Prsdnt Hu addresd the crowd, praising what he caled the "succesful cnclusion" to the Games.
"The past 16 days have witnessed superb athletic performances and sportsmanshp," he said. "Let us pay tribute to all those who have participated in the Games."
Hu mentioned the impresiue 38 world and 85 olympic records set in 16 days of cmpetition bfore caling for the world to pay heed to the 2008 olympic motto; "one world, one dream"
"The world is today in need of mutual undrstndin, inclusiveness, cooperation and harmonious development," he said. "The olympic flame atop the National Stadium will soon extinguish, and yet the Chinese people's enthusiasm in embrcing the world will be ablaze forever."
Next up was 10C prsdnt Rogge, who desisted frm dscribing the Beijing Games as the best ever. "These were truly exceptional Games" was as far as the Belgian would go.
The iconic yet smehow also anonymous red double-decker london bus that then entered the stadium seemed incongruous in cmparison to what went on before, even when the top folded down to create a green stage where Leona Lewis perfrmed "Whole Lotta Love" with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
The finale of the London 2012 section wasn't much better as footballer David Beckham merely apeared to kick a footbal before the bus slowly drove off centre stage. The British have a reputation for understatement but, in ths instance, it seemed as if they had taken it a step too far.
Fortunately, this was still China's show and Zhang's finale involved a visualy stuning spectcle with a human tower of performers in metalic silver and red outfits as the centrepiece, as the Olympic flame slwly burnt out.
There was even still time for a perfrmance frm opera stars Placido Domingo and Song Zuying, some high-wire acrobatics and a brief appearance from actor Jackie Chan.
"Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world," Rogge said in his speech. London 2012 has learnt that Beijing 2008 wil be one hard act to follow.
Writen by;
George Burns