Beijing - The Beijing Olympic Games ended just as they had began Sunday, with a glittering extravaganza as China made full use of one final opportunity to showcase itself to a world audience. "The Olympic flame is not extinguished, instead, it will burn in the heart of each of us," was the message of the performance, according to Zhang Yimou, artistic director of the opening and closing ceremony, and the final event was certainly one that will live long in the memory.
Although no final rehearsal was possible owing to the men's marathon finishing eight hours earlier, the participants had already been practising for 12 months in an effort to ensure all went off without a hitch.
Once Chinese President, Hu Jintao, and International Olympic Committee head Jacques Rogge had taken their seats, fireworks counted down to the start of evening's proceedings.
To kick things off, a drum formation involving 200 performers lined up in a circle on the steps of the main stage below two large drums, resembling the traditional Chinese drum and complete with a drummer precariously attached on either side, suspended in mid-air above them.
As the drums began to sound, over 1,000 silver bell dancers, meant to symbolise brightness and luck, entered the arena and congregated around the stage as their luminescent outfits sparkled.
A series of drum carts, representing the various musical instrument styles of minority ethnic groups in China, were next to enter the arena along with rotating light wheels manned by a single performer.
However, like a bicycle taking a corner at an acute angle, several had difficulties making the full circuit of the stadium, needing to remount to continue their journey. A minor blip on an otherwise flawless evening.
With the drum carts making their exit but the performers on the main stage still drumming, it was time for the entrance of the flagbearers of the 204 competing nations and the remaining athletes left in Beijing, accompanied by hundreds of perpetually smiling cheerleaders.
Their enthusiasm seemed catching though and there was an aura of contentment in the arena by the time everything settled down again for the men's marathon medal ceremony, with Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru receiving his gold medal.
A brief thank you ceremony for the volunteers followed before President Hu addressed the crowd, praising what he called the "successful conclusion" to the Games.
"The past 16 days have witnessed superb athletic performances and sportsmanship," he said. "Let us pay tribute to all those who have participated in the Games."
Hu mentioned the impressive 38 world and 85 Olympic records set in 16 days of competition before calling for the world to pay heed to the 2008 Olympic motto: "One World, One Dream."
"The world is today in need of mutual understanding, inclusiveness, cooperation and harmonious development," he said.
"The Olympic flame atop the National Stadium will soon extinguish, and yet the Chinese people's enthusiasm in embracing the world will be ablaze forever."
Next up was IOC president Rogge, who desisted from describing the Beijing Games as the best ever. "These were truly exceptional Games," was as far as the Belgian would go.
The iconic yet somehow also anonymous red double-decker London bus that then entered the stadium seemed incongruous in comparison to what went on before, even when the top folded down to create a green stage where Leona Lewis performed Whole Lotta Love with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
The finale of the London 2012 section wasn't much better as footballer David Beckham merely appeared to kick a football before the bus slowly drove off centre stage.
The British have a reputation for understatement but, in this instance, it seemed as if they had taken it a step too far.
Fortunately, this was still China's show and Zhang's finale involved a visually stunning spectacle with a human tower of performers in metallic silver and red outfits as the centrepiece, as the Olympic flame slowly burnt out.
There was even still time for a performance from opera stars Placido Domingo and Song Zuying, some high-wire acrobatics and a brief appearance from actor Jackie Chan.
"Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world," Rogge said in his speech.
London 2012 has learnt that Beijing 2008 will be one hard act to follow.
