The Chinese national flag is hoisted aloft at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)
The music band wait for the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. The closing ceremony began at 8 p.m. sharp on Sunday. (Xinhua Photo)
The countdown to the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is staged at the National Stadium in Beijing, China on Aug. 24, 2008. The 29th Summer Olympic Games closed here Sunday. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the scene of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. The closing ceremony began at 8 p.m. sharp on Sunday.(Xinhua Photo)
The sacred flame of the Beijing Olympics is doused at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Guo Dayue)
The photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows a red double-decker bus during the eight-minute performance prepared by London, host city of the next summer Olympic Games in 2012, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony held in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the eight-minute performance prepared by London, host city of the next summer Olympic Games in 2012, in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua Photo)
London Mayor Boris Johnson (1st L, front) holds the Olympic flag at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony held in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
British soccer superstar David Beckham (C) throws a “welcome ball” from atop a red double-decker bus during the eight-minute performance prepared by London, host city of the next summer Olympic Games in 2012, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony held in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Liao Yujie)
Double Olympic badminton gold medalist Zhang Ning carries the flag of the Chinese delegation at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Liao Yujie)
