16 Glorious Days

Beijing - The 2008 Olympics were officially closed on Sunday by International Olympic Commitee president Jacques Rogge, who called the Games of Beijing "truly exceptional." David Beckham kicked a football and three-time Beijing gold medallist Chris Hoy rode a bicycle past a double-decker bus as Olympic attention switched to London for 2012.

The Olympic flame in the cauldron for the Beijing Games was extinguished.

Rogge closed the Games according to IOC tradition and then invited "the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in London to celebrate the Games of the XXX Olympiad."

"Thank you to the people of China, to all the wonderful volunteers and to BOCOG!" Rogge said in his speech.

"Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world."

Rogge spoke at "the end of 16 glorious days which we will cherish forever," praising "these dazzling venues" such as the Bird's Nest and the water Cube.

The formal act came halfway through a glittering party attended by China president Hu Jintao and other dignitaries which featured drummers with giant instruments suspended from the sky and hundreds of other actors.

The next Olympics may be the winter edition in Vancouver 2010, but London hosts the next Summer Games in 2012 and presented itself to the world in the traditional handover ceremony, at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games.

London organisers have pledged to hold Games different from those in Beijing, which can and will not be matched for gigantism, big money and an endless reservoir of people.

The handover showed the intent, termed by the local organising committee's (LOCOG) chief of ceremonies Bill Morris as "simple, youthful, athletic loud and proud like London, entertaining and fun."

The tone was set with the introduction under the motto "From London with a Whole Lotta Love," with the iconic guitar riff later played by its composer, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, with Leona Lewis singing the rock classic.

Beckham then rose up to a wild cheer and kicked the ball to the athletes assembled in the stadium.

The closing ceremony started with fireworks and the Chinese anthem with Hu singing along.

The final victory ceremony, for marathon winner Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya, was embedded in the ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium amid the athletes of the world who had entered the stadium minutes earlier in a loose formation.

Around a dozen of the army of volunteers received flowers from new IOC athletes' representatives Moon Dae-Sung, Alexander Popov and Claudia Bokel.

More than 11,000 athletes from 204 countries competed at the August 8-24 Games for 302 gold medals, with host China dominating the medal table with 51 gold, 21 silver and 28 bronze for a total 100 medals. The US had less gold medals with 36, but 110 overall.

"To the athletes tonight: You were true role models. You have shown us the unifying power of sport. The Olympic spirit lives in the warm embrace of competitive rivals from nations in conflict. Keep that spirit alive when you return home," said Rogge.

More Chinese features and the theme song "Forever Friends" co- written by Italian music producer Georgio Moroder and Chinese musician Kong Xiangdong were to follow.

This was due to be sung by nearly 70 pop stars from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries. Spanish tenor Placido Domingo is also due to perform a duet with Chinese soprano Song Zuying.

And - unlike the opening ceremony where there were pre-recorded elements and a mimed song - everything seen by television viewers worldwide will be live and genuine, organisers said.

London 2012 was due to present itself to the world for the first time in an eight-minute segment due to feature a double-decker bus and among others football icon David Beckham. London mayor Boris Johnson was to receive the Olympic flag.

The closing ceremony for the August 8-24 Games was to end with a giant party in the Bird's Nest stadium.