2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony
The 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. It was directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou and began at 20:00 China Standard Time on 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
- Wei Wei and Sun Nan singing Beijing Beijing.
- Leona Lewis, Jimmy Page, 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.
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
; Sequence- People's Liberation Army Navy Band performance Welcome March song and Introduction of IOC members and Hu Jintao.
- Fireworks prelude, including a firework countdown above the National Stadium itself at 20:00 CST.
- The flag of the People's Republic of China was raised, to the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunteers.
- Mass games performance by a troupe of drummers.
- Orange sparkling fireworks.
- Performers in translucent costumes, bocking stilts and some riding on illuminated monowheels.
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 this Olympic Games were shown with countdown numbers on the screen. Accompanied by sound effects, the atmosphere reached its climax countdown to number digital millennium terminator. Guided by volunteers, the entire audience counted down from 10, together. Both Arabic numerals appeared on the screen with typical patterns of minority ethnic groups as the background letter as "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1" voice over "Shi, Jiu, Ba, Qi, Liu, Wu, Si, San, Er, Yi" to the Games.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 People's Liberation Army prepared the national flag of China. The soldiers then carried the flag, in a slow, goose-stepping march, to the flag podium and the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunteers, was sung by a 224-member choir while the flag was 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 Beijing 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. A grand celebration was about to begin.
- 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
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.
Led by guides and placard holders, the flag bearers of all delegations entered the stadium, divided into two groups. One group, headed by Greece as per tradition, entered from Gate 4 in alphabetical order and stood along the main stage. The other group, 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.
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 flowers to twelve volunteers 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 Luaces of Cuba.
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 to walk together with four people for the ceremony from Gate 1 to the Main Stage.
The final medalists is listed below :
Samuel Wanjiru - Gold
Jaouad Gharib - Silver
Tsegaye Kebede - Bronze
Speeches and lowering the Olympic flag
;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 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 People's Liberation Army 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.
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.
Eight British Army personnel then entered the stadium, carrying the Union Flag. They passed the flag to soldiers of the People's Liberation Army. The flag was raised and the British national anthem God Save The Queen was played. Shortly thereafter, the soldiers slowly lowered the Olympic flag and the Chinese and foreign youth singers sung the Olympic Anthem in Greek., the fireworks erupted again the Olympic rings., the eight soldiers from the People's Liberation Army folding the Olympics flag and all soldiers are exited. representing The Olympic flag was next raised again at the next Winter Olympic games in Vancouver; opening ceremony took place there on 12 February 2010.
The Olympic flag was handed from Guo Jinlong, the Mayor of Beijing, to Count Rogge, the President of the IOC. It was then handed to Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.
Presentation of the 2012 Summer Olympics
;Sequence- Eight minutes of presentation of the 2012 London Olympics.
- *A British modern cultural performance, involving a double-decker bus, bicycles and commuters, to a score entitled 'This is London' by Philip Sheppard recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.
- * Ten-year-old Tayyiba Dudhwala steps out of the double decker bus in front of the crowd and receives a ball from Erika Tham, then walks onto people to return to the bus.
- *Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page perform "Whole Lotta Love".
- *Appearance by David Beckham. Beckham kicked a ceremonial football into the rows of volunteers.
- Procession of performers on an airport terminal staircase, with events during the 2008 Olympics on-screen.
- The Olympic Flame was then extinguished, following a recitation of the 16 days of Olympic competition and of the Ancient Greek competition.
A demonstration entitled "From London, 'With a whole Lotta love." was then staged by the British. It featured the urban dance group ZooNation, the Royal Ballet and Candoco, a disabled dance group, all dressed as typical London commuters waiting for a bus by a zebra crossing, whilst Olympic Champions Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Jamie Staff cycled around the stadium. A double-decker bus drove around the stadium to the music 'This is London' composed by Philip Sheppard and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, before eventually stopping and transforming into a privet hedge featuring famous London landmarks such as Tower Bridge, The Gherkin and the London Eye. Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis then performed the Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love and David Beckham kicked a football into the crowd of athletes accompanied by violinist Elspeth Hanson and cellist Kwesi Edman. Page recalled:
An airport electronic flight screen appeared on the large screen of the Stadium. An athlete about to leave walks up the boarding ladder and turns around affectionately. In special-effect lighting, the boarding ladder truck with the logo of Beijing Olympic Games is slowly elevated. He slowly takes out an exquisite painting scroll and unfolds it. In the dark, a huge mechanic device — the "memory tower" at the center of the field — rises slowly, with two "sports sculpture" performers standing on top of it and showing various athletic gestures.
The rim of the bowl changed into a red track. Special lights cast scenes of the 16 days from the lighting of the holy flame to now onto the track in the air. At the center of the field, two "sports sculpture" performers rise gradually and show different athletic gestures slowly in the air, conveying the noble Olympic spirit. The athlete on the boarding ladder looks at the burning flame in the distance, and slowly folds the painting scroll, just as the flame was about to be extinguished. A huge "holy flame" is lighted at the center of the field as the Olympic flame took its final breath.
Last events
; Sequence- Performers on a tall pillar, waving arms and symbolizing the Olympic flame, eternally not extinguished. Performers group to form Chrysanthemums, with hurdle runners on top of the pillar. Performers then re-climb the pillar, which is then covered in huge red streamers. Roses are formed along with athletes below, the athlete crowds as petals. Red streamers are levitated upward and reveal the performers arranged in the form of Dancing Beijing, the 2008 Olympic logo.
- Fireworks.
- Song "Beijing Beijing, I Love Beijing" by Chinese singer Tan Jing, Hong Kong singer Kelly Chen, Han Xue, Taiwanese-American singer Wang Lee Hom and Korean singer Rain. Erhu instrumental; acrobats leap from the tower by wire.
- Song The Moon is Bright Tonight.
- Song The Flame of Love.
- Song Surpass It
- Song Please stay, Guests from afar with firework displays.
The torch lights in the hands of the marshals and the 90,000 audience members were turned on at the same time. In the passionate far-reaching music, 16 lucky cloud yarn strips slowly rose along the "memory tower" on the main stage. The top ends of the lucky cloud yarn strips extended towards the sky and changed into a lucky cloud tree symbolizing friendship and joy.
The concert section started. Tan Jing, Kelly Chen and Han Xue, Wang Lee Hom and Rain sing together "Beijing, Beijing, I Love Beijing", a song full of passion, vitality and energy.
Next, seven singers walked from below the steps to the Main Stage and sang "The Moon is Bright Tonight". Two Chinese and foreign singers on the mobile singing performance car went from Gate 1 to the front of the VIP corridor, and sang "The Flame of Love". Two singers on the main stage sang the joyous and passionate song "Surpass It".
At this point, there were 50 young singers together. At the same time, 75 aerobatic performers wearing luminous flight clothes performed elevation and rotation in the air.
During the last final song "Please stay, Guests from afar", 50 male dancers holding Fuwa lucky cloud yarn strips and paper flower launchers and 120 other dancers danced on the Main Stage in tune with the rhythm of the song. Also, 600 female performers in festival clothes entered the stadium, flew around the athletes and danced with all athletes in the stadium and 1,046 marshals in tune with the rhythm of the song, forming a spectacular dance circle.
Finally, 600 female performers in festive clothes, 112 performers of minority ethnic groups, 50 male dancers, 70 collectors of launched red silk and 200 "memory tower" performers threw the Fuwa lucky cloud yarn strips into the stadium, interacting with the athletes to landmark buildings and icons such as the Kuala Lumpur Petronas Towers, New York City's Statue of Liberty, Tokyo Tower, London's Big Ben, Sydney Opera House and Jakarta's National Monument to fireworks at closing ceremony "sign-off". At the same time, innumerable dazzling fireworks were launched from the top of the "bowl rim". Then, numerous festival fireworks formed a huge circle of extravaganza, fireworks were fired in a one-off event from all Beijing, launching from the top of the building outwards above the many spectators and well wishers below, farewell in the year in which Beijing went on to host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games say goodbye. Fireworks were launched in the shape and colour of the see you 2012 London Olympics Games, in a display that all minutes compared to being reduced to full minutes along with 2008 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony, symbolizing the successful back to home at closedown of 2008 Summer Olympics. The closing ceremony ended at 21:55 CST.