The closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics kicked off with a sky awash
with fireworks and what seemed like a collective sigh of relief.
As athletes from all countries entered the National Stadium for the celebration
they mingled and showed off their medals as the members of the Chinese
government, Beijing organizing committee, and more than 90,000 fans cheered
them on.
The lighthearted, celebratory atmosphere in the National Stadium was far more
carefree than the much-anticipated, high-security opening ceremony Aug. 8. Yao
Ming laughed and mingled with fellow athletes-turned-fans from around the world
while Argentine, Japanese and German athletes cheered into the cameras.
After the athletes entered the stadium, the first order of business was the
final medal ceremony for Kenyan men's marathon champion, Samuel Wanjiro, who
shattered an Olympic record earlier in the day.
The passing of the Olympic flag from Beijing Mayor Guo Jinrong to London Mayor
Boris Johnson was a symbolic beginning of an inevitable comparison of the
Beijing and London Olympics in 2012.
The flag ceremony was followed by a rock 'n' roll performance complete with a
red double-decker bus, soccer star David Beckham, and a cast of East End-style
dancers, all imported from London. The urban-themed performance stood in stark
contrast to China's more traditional opening ceremony.
"Truly Exceptional Games
After 16 days of competition, the International Olympic Committee lauded the
Beijing games as an impressive success. IOC President Jacques Rogge, who
officially closed the Games at the ceremony, praised China for an "impeccable"
operation that had set the bar high for London.
"You have shown us truly exceptional games," Rogge told the crowd at a packed
National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.
Rogge stated the Beijing Games would leave a positive legacy for future
generations. "You have shown us the unifying power of sport," Rogge continued.
"The Olympic spirit lives in the warm embrace of competitive rivals from
nations in conflict. Keep that spirit alive when you return home," Rogge said.
The Beijing Olympics were an overwhelming success for China on the field as
well, instilling confidence in a nation that hoped to show the world its modern
development.
Chinatopped all countries in the gold medal count with 51 golds, the most it
has ever won, and remarkable for a country that did not win its first gold
medal until the 1984 Games.
The United States won the overall medal count with 110, to China's 100.
Other countries also made history in the medal count. According to the
International Olympic Committee, a record-breaking 87 countries won medals, the
most in Olympic history. Afghanistan, Mauritius, Tajikistan and Togo picked up
their first summer Olympics medals ever, as Bahrain, Mongolia and Panama won
their first gold medals. India won its first individual gold medal with a first
place finish in shooting.
The closing ceremony was the culmination of the most ambitious and expensive
Games ever. It was also the Olympics of record-breaking athleticism. American
swimmer Michael Phelps earned eight Olympic gold medals, becoming the
winningest Olympian in history. Usain Bolt of Jamaica set a record of his own
when he won both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes with world record times.
Beijingwas also a center for international cooperation and protest. Half a
million Chinese volunteers welcomed Olympic visitors to the most expensive
Olympics in history. A Georgian and Russian embraced at shooting range while
their countries were embroiled in armed conflict.
Conflict and protestors also made themselves heard at the most-watched Olympics
Games ever. Protestors from Students for a Free Tibet took to Tiananmen Square
and other popular sites around Beijing almost daily. Religious freedom
activists were detained and questioned while President Bush made history as the
first sitting American president to attend the Olympics.
But overall, the IOC deemed the Beijing Games a successful one that went beyond
the confines of sport.
"The world learned more about China, and China learned more about the rest of
the world," Rogge said.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group.
This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language.
Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc
Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
