A perfect closing of Beijing Olympics with 51 gold medals

Zhang Xiaoping (L) of China fights Kenny Egan of Ireland 
during their light heavyweight (81kg) 
final boxing match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, 
August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

Zhang Xiaoping, an unknown boxer has won the fifty-first gold medal for the magnificent Chinese team in Beijing Olympics on August 24. Zhang, scored 11 to 7, defeated Kenny Egan of Ireland in the Olympic light weight boxing (81 kilograms) final. This is also the second boxing gold won by Chinese boxer in the Olympic Games. Zou Shiming beat Mongolia's Serdamba Purevdorj during light flyweight (48 kg) final boxing bout on the same day.

Zou Shiming (L) celebrates his victory over Mongolia's 
Serdamba Purevdorj during their Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 
Light Flyweight (48 kg) final boxing bout on 
August 24, 2008 in Beijing. [Agencies]

So China, obtained a stunning 51 gold medals in the 29th Olympiad, ranked first on the gold medal tally, well ahead of 36 won by the United States and 23 by Russia. China's gold haul is the biggest after the erstwhile Soviet Union's 55 gold medals in Seoul 1988, thus the dream of being a world sports power comes true.

Though the US was second on the gold tally, it beat its own record of total number of medals. It won 110, two more than in 1992 and 10 more than China's total. The Beijing Games saw 43 world records and more than 120 Olympic records shattered.

Samuel Kamau Wansiru of Kenya crosses the finish line 
to win the men's marathon in the athletics competition at 
the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 
August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

Kenya has produced some great long-distance runners had to wait for Beijing to win its first marathon gold. Samuel Wanjiru did that honor for his nation, and in Olympic record time too.

The 29-second countdown to the closing ceremony of Beijing Olympics in the National Stadium, also known as Bird's Nest, represented the modern Olympiads held in the world. The countdown had tremendous audio and visual impact for the audiences in the Bird's Nest and watchers in front of television screens.

The fascinating firework displayed the digits of last ten second before 8pm Beijing Time, which would be the beginning of the closing ceremony of this wonderful Olympic Games. At eight, fireworks had been lighted up into the night sky from the top ring of the gigantic Bird's Nest.

Hu Jintao, the President of People's Republic of China and Jacques Rogge, the President of International Olympic Committee were warmly welcomed by the words from the announcers in French, English and Chinese. All of the audiences and the representatives China's 56 ethnic groups stood up and sang the solemn anthem of China, while the national flag was hoisted.

The closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games 
begins in the National Stadium at 8 p.m. on August 24, 2008. [Xinhua]

Large drums were descending from Beijing's night sky and the drummers beat their instruments with strong passion. As the eccentric beats of the drums, 1148 female dancers in gorgeous costumes with silver rings on their chests, singing and dancing joyfully in answering the heavenly drums. As they were dancing, flying machines and light-speed wheels were coming on stage, blue lights emitted from them made the night in the Bird's Nest a romantic and memorable one.

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 
Jacques Rogge delivers a speech during the closing ceremony in 
the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

The flagmen and some members of delegations from 204 countries and regions entered the field cheerfully. Their party-like entry was accompanied by a group of drums played lively by 47 young women and 2 small children, with rhythmic Chinese tunes as background music.

Flagbearers participate in the closing ceremony of the 
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru had been awarded gold medal in men's marathon.

The volunteers of this Olympic Games entered the stadium and cheered by audiences. Batches of flowers were honored to the representatives of volunteers. The Olympic flag was lowered in the National Stadium, after International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declared the Beijing Olympic Games closed. Minutes earlier, the national flags of Greece, and Britain, the Games' next host country, were hoisted.

A London bus takes part in the closing ceremony in 
the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games 
August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

An eight-minute performance prepared by London was staged in the National Stadium. Led Zeppelin song, street dances, modern London double-decker bus and colorful umbrellas represent an old city with brand new vitality and eye-catching simplicity.

IOC President Jacques Rogge passes the Olympic flag onto 
London Mayor Boris Johnson (L) during the closing ceremony of the 
2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium on August 24, 2008. 
The Beijing Olympics officially closed today bringing down the curtain on 
a glittering 16-day long sports extravaganza. 
The next Summer Games will be held in London in 2012.[Agencies]

Beijing passed its Olympic host baton to London, host city of the 2012 Olympic Games, as Mayor Guo Jinlong handed over the Olympic flag to his London counterpart Boris Johnson via International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge in the National Stadium.

Soccer player David Beckham (R) kicks a soccer ball during the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

A boy from London gave the football to worldwide soccer icon David Beckham, who kicked the ball to athletes gathered in the stadium for the closing ceremony. This symbolized the power of sport to unite the world and the importance of sport for young people, a central theme of the London 2012 Games.

Fireworks light the sky over the British national flag and 
Chinese national flag during the closing ceremony for the 
2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the National Stadium, 
also known as the "Bird's Nest" on August 24, 2008.[Agencies]

The sacred flame of the Beijing Olympics was doused in a solemn and moving atmosphere. Two "sports sculpture" performers started to show various athletic gestures on a huge mechanic "memory tower" rising at the center of the stadium. Spanish famous tenor Placido Domingo and Chinese top female singer Song Zuying jointly presented a romantic song entitled "The Flame of Love".

Spanish tenor Placido Domingo (L) and Chinese soprano 
Song Zuying perform during the closing ceremony in the 
National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

At the center of the stage, 16 yarn strips dotted with lucky clouds rose along the "memory tower" at the stage and extended up towards the sky, forming a lucky cloud tree symbolizing friendship and joy. Singers including Andy Lau, Jacky Chan and Lee Hom took the stage afterwards and volleys of fireworks again lit up the sky, igniting the passion for the carnival.