Proud China brings curtain down on epic Games

史无前例的北京奥运落幕

Flagbearers take part in the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium August 24, 2008.

Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium August 24, 2008.

The flags of (L-R) Greece, the Olympics, China and Britain are raised during the closing ceremony at the National Stadium for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 24, 2008.

London's Mayor Boris Johnson waves the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 24, 2008.

BEIJING - The Beijing Olympics ended with a blaze of deafening fireworks on Sunday, bringing down the curtain on a Games that dazzled the world with sporting brilliance and showcased the might of modern day China.
北京奥运会周日在阵阵耀眼的礼花中落幕，东道主向世界奉出了一届史无前例的奥运赛事，展示了一个崛起的现代中国。
版主点评：中国已经向全世界，向中国人民证明，我们有能力承办一届史无前例的奥运会，在短短的17天内，我们做到了，北京奥运会将以历史上最伟大奥运会之一的印象，长久留在人们的记忆中。

Country caps 16 days of competition;

Olympics transition to 2012 in London

BEIJING - With help from British star power, China concluded its debut as Olympic host Sunday after 16 days of near-flawless logistics and superlative athletic achievement — coexisting awkwardly with the government’s wariness of dissent and free speech.

A spectacular closing ceremony opened with torrents of fireworks and included a pulsating show-within-a-show by London, host of the 2012 Games. From a stage formed from a red double-decker bus, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page played classic rock hit “Whole Lotta Love” and soccer icon David Beckham booted a ball into the surrounding throng of athletes on the stadium floor.

Then more lyrical music returned, and the Olympic flame atop the stadium was extinguished। A carnival-themed segment completed the show, featuring a duet by Spanish tenor Placido Domingo and Chinese soprano Song Zuying. There was another, noisier barrage of fireworks and confetti filled the air.