8月24日，这一晚，北京向朝夕相伴了17天的奥运圣火挥别，英国标志性的红色双层巴士则从鸟巢起航，驶向奥运会的下一站伦敦。伦敦市长鲍里斯•约翰逊接过奥林匹克旗帜，充满异国文化的“伦敦8分钟”表演，更是吸引了全世界的眼球。

A double decker bus arrives during the closing ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the National Stadium also know as the "Bird's Nest" on August 24, 2008. [Agencies]

China put on an extravagant farewell to the Olympics last night, while David Beckham, the world's most famous soccer player, kicked a ball to start the countdown to London 2012.

Launching a huge party to wrap up the greatest sporting show on earth, thousands of athletes poured in from all four corners of the stadium, blowing kisses and waving flags.

The towering figure of Chinese basketball star Yao Ming was seen grinning from ear to ear.

Two giant drums were hoisted into the sky, with two pairs of suspended drummers thumping out a hypnotic beat.

The stadium was turned into a kaleidoscope of glittering colors, as about 200 acrobats took giant leaps and somersaulted across a stage on spring-heeled stilts.

There were speeches from Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organising Committee, and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, the latter officially declaring the Beijing Games to be over.

Rogge and Guo Jinlong, the mayor of Beijing, then handed over the Olympic Flag to Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, host city of the next Olympics in 2012.

It heralded the start of an eight-minute segment for London organizers to showcase the 2012 Games, with a red London bus driven into the stadium.

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".

The biggest star turn came when a grinning Beckham kicked the ball off the top of the bus into the hands of a delighted Games volunteer.

The Olympic flame was then extinguished but the carnival continued in the night with songs and dances.

(Agencies)