POSTED: September 17th 2008
NewsUpdate
Flame finally goes out on Beijing
Special Correspondent / Sports Features Communications
BEIJING: The 2016 Paralympic Games came to a spectacular end in the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, as the closing ceremony brought down the final curtain on one of highest-profile Olympiads of all time.
Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee, hailed Beijing 2008 as "the greatest Games ever" during a multi-choreographed performance of light of sound and vision including millions of leaves and petals falling out of the stadium “sky.”
Craven paid tribute to “the best-ever Paralympic villages, a never-ending and self-generating supply of passion and emotion, superb organisation and wonderful volunteers” and hailed “millions of new Paralympic sports aficionados both here in China and around the world.
The ceremonials saw London 2012's double-decker bus make a second appearance alongside wheelchair basketball star Ade Adepitan as Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, received the Paralympic flag from Craven and Guo Jinlong, Mayor of Beijing.
Adepitan, bronze medallist in Athens, led the double-decker into the stadium along with Gareth Picken, a nine-year-old wheelchair gymnast. Even a tea lady made an appearance in a handover devoid of the stars which marked London's part in last month’s Olympic closing ceremony.
Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 chairman, said: “Our segment was a statement of intent that our Games will be inspiring and fun and get the whole world involved."
Johnson earlier said he was "lost in admiration and awe for the achievements of the British team" and added: “They have delivered for us - now we must deliver for them, and for all disabled Londoners and visitors.
“Beijing gives us a superb challenge and a fantastic platform from which to go forward. We will work to make sure London is the most accessible Games ever."
The first sporting event for competitors with a disability was staged 60 years ago at Stoke Mandeville, just outside London.
China topped the medals table with 87 gold and 207 in total with Great Britain second with 42 golds and 102 medals – ahead of the United States, Ukraine and Australia.
Most outstanding individuals were the Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc, South Africa's Olympic swimmer Natalie du Toit and Australian swimmer Matthew Cowdrey, all of whom won five golds.
South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, nicknamed “Blade Runner" for his sprinting performances on modified carbon fibre blades, achieved a track treble with gold in the 100m, the 200m and 400m.
Keywords · Paralympic Games · Beijing · London 2012 · Mayor Boris Johnson · Philip Craven · Sebastian Coe
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