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Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the fireworks of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium (R), or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. The building on the left is the National Aquatic Center, or the Water Cube. The closing ceremony began at 8 p.m. sharp on Sunday. [Chen Kai/Xinhua]
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"Tonight, we come to the end of 16 glorious days which we will cherish forever," Rogge said in a speech at the closing gala. "Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world."
The Beijing Games are a testimony of the fact that the world has its trust rested upon China, said Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG). "The Chinese people, teeming with enthusiasm, have honored the commitments they solemnly made."
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Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the colorful fireworks representing the Olympic rings at 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. [Li Gang/Xinhua]
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French handball player Daniel Narcisse was the last athlete to leave the Beijing Olympic competition venues Sunday afternoon, after his team beat their Icelandic opponents 28-23 to take the last of the total 302 gold medals on offer at the Beijing Games.
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Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the fireworks of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. [Gong Bing/Xinhua]
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