Closing ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games begins

The Chinese national flag is hoisted aloft at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2008. The music band wait for the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. The closing ceremony began at 8 p.m. sharp on Sunday.

The gala began amid a display of fireworks that form a huge circle in the sky which symbolizes the complete success of the Beijing Games.

In traditional Chinese culture, circle is a symbol of perfection, harmony and renewal.

The countdown to the closing ceremony started from the number 29, indicating the 29th Olympic Games.

All the audience joined the countdown from 10, while the numbers were displayed by firework explosions in the sky.The Bird's Nest has a seating capacity of 91,000.

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