Spectacular fireworks kicked off the proceedings, while a beautifully choreographed drumming and dancing display recalled the opening ceremony. It was a more celebratory affair, as exuberant athletes, dancers and musicians got into the party spirit. The Olympic flag was handed to London mayor Boris Johnson, with organisers briefly showcasing the 2012 Games. The countdown to 2012 has started, and organisers will know they have a great deal to live up to with China hosting one of the best organised Games in history and staging some of the most memorable opening and closing ceremonies ever seen. Beijing's dramatic farewell to the 29th Games of the modern Olympiad got under way with a magnificent firework display, which quickly segued into an amazing display of dancing and drumming. Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy, who claimed three gold medals in Beijing, carried the flag for Team GB as the 205 flag bearers led the way for the thousands of athletes. After speeches from Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organising Committee, and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, the Beijing Games were officially declared to be over. China staged the Olympics against a background dominated by fears of pollution, worries over security and protests about its human rights record. But the sporting action was enthralling, with highlights including Michael Phelps swimming to a record eight gold medals and Jamaica's Usain Bolt breaking three world records on his way to three golds. "We have come to the end of 16 days which we will cherish forever," said Rogge. "New stars were born and stars from previous Games continued to amaze us. "We shared their joys and their tears and marvelled at their abilities, and will long remember their achievements here. "These were a truly exceptional Games." The British flag was raised and "God Save the Queen" sung by the choir, before Johnson was handed the Olympic flag from Guo Jinlong, the major of Beijing, and Rogge. It heralded the start of an eight-minute segment for London organisers to offer a flavour of the 2012 Games, as a red London bus arrived into the stadium. Hoy, dressed up as a city gent, and fellow British cyclists Victoria Pendleton and Jamie Staff accompanied the bus on bicycles alongside a troupe of dancers holding umbrellas. Singer Leona Lewis and former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page emerged as the bus transformed into a grass-covered carnival float, and the pair combined for a rendition of "Whole Lotta Love". And the biggest star turn came when former Manchester United star and England captain David Beckham arrived to kick a football into the crowd of athletes. The Olympic flame was then extinguished, before the attention shifted to a "memory tower" in the centre of the stadium. Legendary Spanish tenor Placido Domingo and Chinese soprano Song Zuying joined forces to sing, while Hollywood actor Jackie Chan later joined a throng of dancers and singers for a closing number. The sporting action was finally brought to an end earlier in the day, with France's men claiming gold in the final of the handball. It was the 302nd and last gold medal to be awarded, and followed Sunday's finals in boxing, basketball, volleyball and water polo, while Kenya's Sammy Wanjiru won the men's marathon. source:< ahref='http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/7578133.stm'>http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/7578133.stm

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that weightlifter Igor Razoronov from Ukraine has committed an Anti-Doping Rules violation at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing. Igor Razoronov, 38, tested positive for nandrolone on 18 August 2008. The Disciplinary Commission, composed of Thomas Bach (Chairman), Denis Oswald and John Coates, today decided: The athlete Igor Razoronov, Ukraine, Weightlifting - is disqualified from the mens’ 105kg weightlifting event, where he had placed sixth; - is excluded from the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008; - shall have his diploma in the above-noted event withdrawn; - shall have his Olympic identity and accreditation card immediately withdrawn and cancelled. - The International Weightlifting Federation is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence. - The NOC of Ukraine is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diploma awarded to the Athlete in relation to the above-noted event. - The NOC of Ukraine and BOCOG shall ensure full implementation of this decision. - The NOC of Ukraine is requested to inform the IOC and the International Weightlifting Federation of the results of the investigation of the special commission set up by the NOC of Ukraine. - This decision shall enter into force immediately. Under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, testing takes place under the IOC's auspices from 27 July to 24 August 2008. Within that period, the IOC systematically performs tests pre and post events. After each event, the IOC systematically carries out tests on the top five athletes plus two at random. So far, over 4,600 tests have been performed out of the more than 5,000 tests that the IOC anticipates to conduct throughout the period of the Games. source:http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2768

Olympic canoe and kayak finals results on Saturday:- Finals K-1 500m (kayak single) men 1. Ken Wallace (AUS) 1:37.252 2. Adam van Koeverden (CAN) 1:37.630 3. Tim Brabants (GBR) 1:37.671 4. Eirik Veraas Larsen (NOR) 1:37.949 5. Anton Ryakhov (RUS) 1:38.187 6. Akos Vereckei (HUN) 1:38.318 7. Anders Gustafsson (SWE) 1:38.447 8. Steven Ferguson (NZL) 1:38.512 9. Stjepan Janic (CRO) 1:38.729 source:http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/sports_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=142463

Olympic women's handball results on Saturday: Gold Medal Norway 34 Russia 27 Scorers: Norway: Nyberg (4), Aamodt (1), Snorroeggen (1), Lybekk (7), Noestvold (3), Hammerseng (2), Johansen (3), Frafjord (2), Larsen (2), Riegelhuth (9 incl 3 pen). Russia: Poltoratskaya (1), Postnova (3), Andryushina (4), Polenova (4 incl 2 pen), Shipilova (3), Marennikova (1), Dmitrieva (5), Bliznova (6). Bronze medal South Korea 33 Hungary 28 Scorers South Korea: Kim (4), Huh (1), Kim (1), Hong (8), Park (5), An (3), Choi (1), Moon (10). Hungary: Ferling (7), Pigniczki (1), Gorbicz (5), Toth (3), Szamoransky (1), Borbas (5), Hornyak (3), Kovacsicz (2), Tomori (1). 5th place France 31 China 23 7th place Sweden 30 Romania 34 source:http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/sports_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=142465

Olympic mountain biking results on Saturday: Women cross-country final 1. Sabine Spitz (GER) 1h45:11. (Average speed 15.2 km/h) 2. Maja Wloszczowska (POL) at 41. 3. Irina Kalentyeva (RUS) 1:17. 4. Catharine Pendrel (CAN) 1:26. 5. Ren Chengyuan (CHN) 2:29. 6. Petra Henzi (SUI) 3:30. 7. Mary McConneloug (USA) 5:23. 8. Georgia Gould (USA) 5:40. 9. Rosara Joseph (NZL) 5:56. 10. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (POL) 6:10. source:http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/sports_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=142467