The 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.Full Coverage: The Closing Ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games – The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (en.beijing2008.cn) (24 August 2008) (Retrieved on 24 August 2008) The ceremony was directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou and began at 20:00 China Standard Time (UTC+8) on Sunday night, 24 August 2008. The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture.
The musical acts included
Plácido Domingo and Song Zuying singing The Flame of Love (lyrics by writers Song Xiaoming and Yuan Yuan) Wei Wei and Sun Nan singing Beijing Beijing (wo ai Beijing). Leona Lewis, Jimmy Page (with David Beckham making an appearance), Elspeth Hanson as the violinist and Kwesi Edman as the cellist. Andy Lau, Emil Chau, Jackie Chan, Karen Mok, Kelly Chen, Joey Yung and Nicolas Tse. Wang Lee Hom, Stefanie Sun and Rain. Han Hong Klaus Badelt wrote the music for the closing ceremonies.
The ceremony also included the handover of the games from Beijing to London. Guo Jinlong, the Mayor of Beijing, handed over the Olympic flag to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. There was also a performance organized by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).
While the opening ceremony was described as an artistic and serious introduction of China's ancient past, the closing ceremony was described by Western media as "much more lighthearted", "silly," and "fun" than the opening ceremony.
By the end of the 16 days of NBC's coverage of the Beijing Olympics in the United States, it had also become the most-watched U.S. television event of all time, with over 211 million American viewers tuned into the Olympics on NBC according to the Nielsen Media Research; this is 2 million more than the 1996 Atlanta Games, the previous all-time record-holder.
Sequence of events Opening and a Homenage to Beijing Sequence People's Liberation Army Navy Band performance Welcome March song and Introduction of IOC members and China's leader Hu Jintao. Fireworks prelude, including a firework countdown above the National Stadium itself at 20:00 CST. The Flag of China was raised, to the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunteers. Mass games performance by a troupe of 200 drummers. Orange sparkling fireworks. Performers in translucent costumes, bocking stilts and some riding on illuminated monowheels.
Synopsis Chinese leader Hu Jintao entered the stadium, accompanied by Jacques Rogge. They were followed by the entrance of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah. The countdown started from "29", indicating the 29th Summer Olympics. From "29" to "11", highlights of the Olympic Games were shown with countdown numbers on the screen. Accompanied by sound effects, the atmosphere reached its countdown to number digital millennium terminator. Guided by volunteers, the entire audience counted down from 10 together for 10 seconds to starting at 19:59:50 China Standard Time in the country and the sky above the stadium is the same as the countdown started in a unison voice "10" to "1" with all voice screaming as "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1" or "Shi!!!, Jiu!!!, Ba!!!, Qi!!!, Liu!!!, Wu!!!, Si!!!, San!!! Er!!!, Yi!!!" is used to release large-scale fireworks above the stadium to the Games and herald the start of the officially opening time at 20:00:00 China Standard Time with the fireworks burst immediately when the countdown ended, forming a great circle in the sky which symbolized the success of the Beijing Olympic Games. The starting countdown is the same used during the opening ceremony 16 days earlier by 2,008 PLA members. The PLAGF Honor Guard Soldiers prepared the national flag of China. The soldiers then carried the flag, in a slow, goose-stepping march, to the flagpole and the Chinese national anthem, the March of the Volunteers, was sung by a 224-member choir while the flag was unfurled and raised.
All lights were extinguished in the stadium. A video was played on the large screen in the north and south to explain the theme of the closing ceremony. The video reviewed the exciting and memorable moments during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. A grand celebration began: Two hundred performers in drum formation lined up, in a circle, on the steps of the Main Stage. They danced and beat drums while looking up at the sky. Two large heavenly drums flew from the north and south, and the resonant sound of the drum seemed to come from far away. The performers beat the heavenly drums in a unique style in magical light. The two heavenly drums met at the center above the stadium, slowly falling down to the Main Stage and were suspended about 5 meters above the stage. The heavenly drum and the drum on the ground complemented each other. Summoned by the drumbeat, 1,148 silver bell dancers wearing silver bells gathered around the Main Stage, and sang and danced for the heavenly drums. The grand celebration was near to begin.
Next, silver bell performers danced in time to the beat of the heavenly drums on the Main Stage to greet the guests. Eight drum carts in different shapes entered the stadium, carrying performers who beat drums in unique ways. The sound of the song was mingled with the drumbeat; passionate and dynamic. Eight rotating poles swung and crossed. With 60 light wheels shuttling, 200 bouncing and flying men ran and did somersaults. The silver bell dancers changed into radiating wave lines coming through, and formed four festive passages with the eight drum carts to great the guests.
Attending heads of state and dignitaries The closing ceremony was attended by at least 30 heads of state and dozens of other dignitaries. Notable faces included:
International organizations: Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan IOC President Jacques Rogge and wife Anne Rogge, predecessor Juan Antonio Samaranch and Members of the International Olympic Committee
Host nation: Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party Hu Jintao and wife Liu Yongqing, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin and wife Wang Yeping, Premier Wen Jiabao and wife Zhang Peili, former Premiers Li Peng and Zhu Rongji, Chairman of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo, Vice President Xi Jinping, Vice Premier Li Keqiang, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, BOCOC President and Party Committee Secretary of Beijing Liu Qi, and Mayor of Beijing Guo Jinlong
Foreign dignitaries: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown and wife Sarah Jane Brown, Princess Anne, and Mayor of London Boris Johnson as the main authorities of the next host city. Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia King Albert II Prime Minister of Malaysia and President of the United Malays National Organisation Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu President of the United States George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Members of the Presidential Delegation: Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt, United States Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt Jr., Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller Karen Hughes, President of the United States Olympic Committee Peter Ueberroth, Figure Skating Champion and American Public Diplomacy Envoy Michelle Kwan, Governor of New York David Paterson, Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, and President of Manhattan Scott Stringer German President Horst Köhler Prime Minister of South Korea Han Seung-soo Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd President of Singapore S. R. Nathan Chief Executive of Hong Kong Donald Tsang Prince of Monaco Albert II President of Iran Mahmood Ahmadinejad Chief Executive of Macau Edmund Ho Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla
Entrance of the flag bearers
Sequence Flag bearers enter the stadium. Athletes enter the stadium. Athletes gather in the stadium, with drumming throughout the precession.
Synopsis Led by guides and placard holders, the flag bearers of all delegations entered the stadium, divided into two groups. One group (1–102), headed by Greece as per tradition, entered from Gate 4 in alphabetical order and stood along the main stage. The other group (103–204), headed by Saudi Arabia, entered from Gate 3 and also stood along the main stage. The Chinese Flag bearer entered last and stood at the designated place. Greece entering first and China entering last symbolizing the first and the most recent Summer Olympics host nations.
After all flags were in position, the athletes entered the stadium in no particular order. All athletes entered from four gates without differentiation of nationality. While the athletes were entering, a women's percussion band and two children percussion players played cheerful music. The entire stadium was in raptures.
Finally, the medal-winning athletes entered the stadium.
Men's Marathon Medal ceremony Sequence Presentation of the final men's marathon medals; including the national anthem of Kenya: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu, for the gold medallist Samuel Wanjiru. Presentation of the volunteer thanksgiving ceremony of bouquets of flowers to twelve volunteer representatives of the over 70,000 volunteers of the games, conducted by newly elected athlete representatives to the IOC Athletes' Commission: Moon Dae-sung of South Korea, Alexander Popov of Russia, Claudia Bokel of Germany and Yumilka Ruiz of Cuba.
Synopsis At this point, Samuel Wanjiru received his gold medal. He was very excited as he climbed to the first position. Three flags, including the flag of Kenya, were raised as the national anthem of Kenya was played.
Afterwards, twelve children led twelve representatives of volunteers to walk from Gate 2 to the stage. Then, four children led four new members of IOC Athletes' Commission (Moon Dae-Sung of South Korea, Alexander Popov of Russia, Claudia Bokel of Germany and Yumilka Ruiz Luaces of Cuba) to walk together with four people for the ceremony from Gate 1 to the Main Stage.
The final medalists are listed below: Samuel Wanjiru - Gold Jaouad Gharib - Silver Tsegaye Kebede - Bronze
The Antwerp Ceremony Sequence Raising of the Greek national flag, to the national anthem of Greece as "Hymn to Liberty". Welcoming of Liu Qi, the president of the BOCOG, and Jacques Rogge, the IOC President. Speech by Liu Qi in Mandarin Chinese, concluding by thanking everyone. Speech by the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, in English, French and concluding in Mandarin, declaring the Beijing Games "truly exceptional". He closes the Games, and bids (in French) for "the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in London". The flag of the United Kingdom was raised to the British national anthem God Save the Queen. Lowering of the Olympic flag and singing of the Olympic Anthem which the Chinese and foreign singers sung in Greek. Fireworks representing the Olympic rings. The PLAGF Honor Guard Soldiers folding of the Olympic flag as the soldiers exited Returning of the Olympic flag by Guo Jinlong, the Mayor of Beijing, to Jacques Rogge, in turn presenting it to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London. Each of the three waves the flag a customary six times
Synopsis The People's Liberation Army then enter the stadium, holding the national flag of Greece. While the Greek flag was being hoisted, the Greek national anthem "Hymn to Liberty" was performed.
Rogge and Liu Qi walked to the main stage from the VIP corridor. During his speech, Rogge praised the Chinese for their warm reception and effort. He also stated that the Beijing Games were "truly exceptional". Finally, he declared in French that the 2008 Olympic Games were officially closed.