Olympic Closing Ceremony today (24.08.08)

Today(24.08.08) is the Closing Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic. Began on August 8 with an opening ceremony attended by 91,000 spectators, concluded on August 24, 2008 with the closing ceremony held in the Beijing National Stadium. Began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time (UTC+8), the closing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries from around the world, Finnish President Tarja Halonen being one among them. Fireworks prelude, including a firework countdown above the National Stadium itself, at 8:00PM CST.
The two singers, with their touching farewell song, gave an emotional climax to the ceremony, even as Bird's Nest was turned into a splendor of vibrant color and music.
China had every reason to cheer, as its telling performance in the Games payed the dividend and the host country, with its 50 Gold medals, topped the list of contenders.
In the closing ceremony venue, along with flags of Greece and China, there was the Union Jack, the national flag of next host country. Later the Olympic flag was lowered and carried over to the Mayor of Beijing, Guo Jinlong, in a ceremonious fashion. The Mayor then handed it over to the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge.
Keeping in line with the protocol, the IOC president then passed the Flag on to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. London will host the Games in 2012.

CHRONOLOGICAL OF EVENTS
~ Fireworks prelude, including a firework countdown above the National Stadium itself, at 8:00PM CST.
~ Introduction of IOC members
~ Raising of the Chinese national flag, to the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunter
~ Mass games performance by a troupe of drummers
~ Orange sparkling fireworks.
~ Performers in translucent costumes, with some riding on circular objects.
~ Flag bearers enter the stadium.
~ Athletes enter the stadium.
~ Athletes gather in the stadium, with drumming throughout the precession.
~ Presentation of the final men's marathon medals; including the national anthem of Kenya: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu, for the gold medallist.
~ Presentation of flowers to twelve volunteers by newly elected athlete representatives to the IOC
~ Raising of the Greek national flag, to the Greek national anthem, Hymn to Liberty.
~ Welcoming of the President of the BOCOG, Liu Qi, and the IOC President, Jacques Rogge.
~ Speech by Liu Qi in Mandarin Chinese, concluding in French with "merci beaucoup".
~ Speech by the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, in English, French and concluding in Mandarin, declaring the Beijing Games "truly exceptional". He closes the Games.
~ Raising of the Union Flag, to the national anthem of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen".
~ Lowering of the Olympic Flag and singing of the Olympic Anthem.
~ Returning of the Seoul Olympic Flag by the Mayor of Beijing Guo Jinlong to Jacques Rogge, in turn presenting it to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
~ Fireworks representing the Olympic rings.
~ Eight minutes of presentation of the 2012 London Olympics.
1)A British Modern Cultural Performance, involving a double-decker bus, bicycles and commuters
2)Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page perform "Whole Lotta Love".
3)Appearance by David Beckham, who 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.
~ Extinguishing of the Olympic Flame, following a recitation of the 16 days of Olympic competition and of the Ancient Greek competition.
~ Performers on a tall pillar (called the memory tower), waving arms and symbolising the Olympic flame, eternally unextinguished. Performers group to form Chrysanthemums, with hurdle runners on top of the pillar. Performers then reclimb the pillar, which is then covered in red sheets. Roses are formed along with athletes below (with pillar as a stigma), the athlete crowds as petals. Red sheets are levitated upward and reveal the performers arranged in the form of Dancing Beijing, the 2008 Olympic logo.
~ Fireworks kickoff.
~ Song "Beijing Beijing, I Love Beijing" (Běijīng Běijīng, Wǒ Ài Běijīng) by Hong Kong singer Kelly Chen, Chinese-American singer Wang Lee Hom and Korean singer Rain. Erhu instrumental; acrobats leap from the tower by wire.
~ Soprano group singing of Chinese folk song "The Moon is Bright Tonight".
~ Opera tenor Plácido Domingo and Chinese singer Song Zuying sing "Ài de Huǒyàn (The Flame of Love)" (composed by Bian Liunian and Klaus Badelt).
~ Song "Tomorrow's World".
~ Song "Hard to say Goodbye" led by Chinese stars such as Wei Wei, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Karen Mok, Joey Yung, Emil Chau and many other singers along with many others representing the 56 ethnic groups of modern China
~ Song "Surpass It".
~ Fireworks, Pyrotechnics & Ethnic Dancing.
~ Farewells.
~ Conclusion of Closing Ceremony at 9:55PM CST.

(PS: edited form Wikipedia)