2008 Olympics Closing Ceremony: Passing The Torch To London

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The Guardian has a full writeup, with pictures, of the Beijing Olympics' spectacular closing ceremony, which passed the torch --not yet literally-- to London for the 2012 Olympics.

The 90,000-strong crowd gasped as the bus converted into the London skyline and X-Factor Leona Lewis emerged singing. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page also started playing in the background.

Then the moment the Chinese and many watchers across the world had been waiting for came - David Beckham appeared on the bus waving and smiling.

The world-famous icon, roared on by the Beijing crowd, lifted a football above his head and kicked it into the crowd.

The Mayor of London promised to fly the Olympic flag outside City Hall when he brings it home from China.