Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony Revealed: China unveiled an extravagant farewell to the Olympics on Sunday and David Beckham, the world’s most famous soccer player, said hello by kicking a ball to start the countdown to London 2012.

The appearance of Beckham on top of a red double-decker bus that unfolded into a hedge-clipped silhouette of London sent 91,000 fans into a frenzy in the futuristic Bird’s Nest stadium.

A grinning Beckham kicked the ball off the top of the bus into the hands of a delighted Games volunteer.

The London segment was woven into a spectacular closing ceremony that wrapped up a $43 billion Games designed to showcase China’s might, modernity and sporting prowess.

A ring of fireworks exploded round the rim of the stadium. Two giant drums were hoisted into the sky with two pairs of suspended drummers thumping out a hypnotic beat.

The stadium was turned into a kaleidscope of glittering colours with 200 acrobats taking giant leaps and somersaulting across a stage on spring-heeled stilts.

Launching a huge party to wrap up the greatest sporting show on earth, thousands of athletes poured in from all four corners of the stadium, blowing kisses and waving flags.

The towering figure of Chinese basketball player Yao Ming was seen grinning from ear to ear.

Beckham, brought up in east London, hailed Beijing’s success but told Reuters before the ceremony: “I’m sure we will be better than them, without a doubt.”

Britain’s eight-minute chance to tell the world what the London Games would offer the world in 2012 featured guitarist Jimmy Page, who launched into the riff from “Whole Lotta Love”.

He was joined in the Led Zeppelin classic by TV talent show winner and chart-topping singer Leona Lewis.

Queen Elizabeth also sanctioned a choral version of “God Save The Queen” backed by lush string arrangements.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, his normally dishevelled blond hair carefully coiffed for the occasion, took over the Olympic Flag and waved it proudly, especially after Britain’s best gold medal performance for a century.

“This is a short, sharp shock that fires the starting gun for London,” said organiser Martin Green who rehearsed the British show for two weeks at a private airfield outside Beijing.

Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony Revealed: China unveiled an extravagant farewell to the Olympics on Sunday and David Beckham, the world’s most famous soccer player, said hello by kicking a ball to start the countdown to London 2012. Editing by Phelps Loong

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2012 London Olympic Games and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a rival. The director of Beijing’s Opening and Closing Ceremony, Zhang Yimou, told a Guangzhou newspaper last week that only North Korea could have put on a better show, since the communist country is “number one in the world when it comes to uniformity.” Organizers of the 2012 London Olympics got the message and seem to have already said, “forget it; we’re just not going to even try.” Thusly, the centerpiece of the Beijing-to-London handoff at tonight’s Closing Ceremony: A double-decker bus and David Beckham. At least they went through the trouble of flying in a mode of public transportation and a washed-up soccer star. That was only slightly more work than FedEx’ing a basket of fish and chips, a cup of tea and a copy of ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’. Rule, Britannia!

Join the discussion. Here you’ll see the comments in the order that they were posted.

Show up your face Chris Chase and let the world see if you are underaged as well!!

or underaged brain.

one way or the other.There are double-decker buses running in China imported from United Kingdom and Hong Kong since more 10 years ago.

China really did an amazing job as a host country for the 29th Olympics. The Opening was the Best and The Closing Ceremony was also Splendid. I’m Hoping that the next host city will do their Best to top Beijing’s Presentations. London is up for the Pressure to match up with the performances, and I know that they can do it…Go Spice Girls!, Go Big BEN!, Go Beckham!, Go Leona Lewis, Go Double Decker Buses, give em all the BEST that you got and I’m sure London too will be an Amazing Host Country for the 2012 Olympics!!!! Will Be looking forward to it!

Never have I commented anything on this blog, but now that the whole thing is finished, I just want to point out two things:
1) Chris Chase is the biggest moron I have ever had the pain to read.
2) London will have to try its very best to put on a show like Beijing and to hold the Games as great as Beijing did. However, I trust them and I think they will do great.

did Zhang Yimou really said that about North Korea….. oh please I am so sick of this Yahoo Olympics coverage…. Yahoo needs to fire this Chris Chase. He is the kind of guy who thinks the world is not at ppeace enough….. i am so disappointed by the Yahoo coverage in this Olympics…. for all righteous America, please switch to google sports if you think this Yahoo site/ r this Chris Chase has done enoouthg damage to the reputation/ imtelligence of americans.

Everyone should read Dan Wetzel’s article “Beijing Olympics’ winners and losers”. I think it is spot on. Chris Chase and that Mag Pie should learn what real writing is about.

Protests and pretty girl lipsynching and human rights issues notwithstanding, the Chinese put on the greatest man made show on earth, besides winning the most gold medals. Eat your hearts out guys.
And Usain “Showboat” Bolt, More power to you. Here’s looking forward to more of your showboating.

Isn’t it better to compete who has the best organized Olympics, than who has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world? That’s the Olympics spirit! Volunteering is the original Olympics spirit. Since most athletes are well-paid professionals nowadays, volunteers who help the Olympics should be given the honor of the Olympics true spirit! Well done Beijing!

So, Chris…. how many athletes were affected by the bad air in China?

to endure is greater than to dare;
to tire out his hostile fortune;
to be daunted by no difficultys;
to keep heart when he has lost it;
who can say this is not greatness?

YAY!!!!! the Olympics is OVER and no more BS from Chris Chase…

You need a lesson in journalism… one of the first lessons is to be UNBIASED… something that you clearly are not… I’m all for team spirit but credit needs to be given where it is due and so is RESPECT…
After just coming back from the olympics…trust me people..there were alot of people arrested. many of our bags were inspected while we were away from the hotel. there were 32 chinese performers who asked for aslymn while in the village. it is true..only north korea could have done as well. many of the athletes understood well that china does not play by any of the rules. all countries have some issues with doping but china..they will do whatever it takes to earn the “state” their name. one young man in the audience who sat next to us said, in english,”we people have little to live for but to perform for the state”. thank god we live in usa!!!

2012 London Olympic Games and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a rival. The director of Beijing’s Opening and Closing Ceremony, Zhang Yimou, told a Guangzhou newspaper last week that only North Korea could have put on a better show, since the communist country is “number one in the world when it comes to uniformity.” Organizers of the 2012 London Olympics got the message and seem to have already said, “forget it; we’re just not going to even try.” Thusly, the centerpiece of the Beijing-to-London handoff at tonight’s Closing Ceremony: A double-decker bus and David Beckham. At least they went through the trouble of flying in a mode of public transportation and a washed-up soccer star. That was only slightly more work than FedEx’ing a basket of fish and chips, a cup of tea and a copy of ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’. Rule, Britannia! Editing by Alice Charles

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