Athletes' Joy Symbolises Unity Across Borders

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008 A3 Beijing lets its hair down Giant drums hang over massed performers at the start of the ceremony (top) while two performers strike a classical pose (above) harking back to the Games of ancient Greece. Photos: Robert Ng, Reuters Olympic flag-bearers enter the National Stadium last night, led by It was truly a night to remember for two members of the Netherlands’ team, Greece’s Hrysopiyi Devetzi, setting the scene for the athletes to join in surrounded by teammates, who hug after they agreed to get married during the closing ceremony celebrations. Photo: Reuters the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Photo: Reuters Athletes’ joy symbolises unity across borders They exchanged pins, took photos or had already left town, leaving Chinese forward. The couple held hands in the But for one disoriented athlete, the just ran around in a display of sheer joy basketball icon Yao Ming to hog the Athens stadium, catching the world’s flag was no help in showing the way. and excitement. closing ceremony’s limelight. attention. In that closing ceremony, “I went astray and couldn’t find my Unlike the opening ceremony when The 2.26-metre-tall superstar centre Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, then fresh teammates,” said Huang Xuechen, a phalanxes of athletes marched into the was surrounded by autograph hunters off his world record-tying victory in the synchronised swimmer and a first-time “Bird’s Nest” led by their national flags, and photo seekers, among the most Olympic 110 metres hurdles, led the Olympian. “But overall, it was an the closing ceremony featured athletes prominent being Lauren Jackson, the athletes into the stadium carrying the extraordinary experience.” randomly entering from four entrances centre for the Australian women’s nation’s flag. Former South Korean taekwondo in the corners of the stadium, basketball team. Liu, who shocked a nation by pulling star Moon Dae-sung led three new symbolising unity regardless of The two chatted and exchanged out from the Beijing Games with an International Olympic Committee nationality or race. pins, and Yao even gave her a big hug. injury in his heat last Monday, did not athlete commission members in These Olympians are the greatest in The previous Olympics closing take part last night. presenting bouquets to 12 recent history, with 40 world and ceremony is a sweet memory for Yao, Instead, Zhang Ning, a 33-year-old representatives of the Games million- Olympic records set in the Beijing who used that occasion to make public badminton player who won her second plus volunteers for their efforts. Games. his relationship with Ye Li, a former women’s singles gold, was honoured ...................................................... Fireworks burst over Beijing’s “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium as the Games come to a close. Photo: Xinhua But many of the Olympic celebrities national women’s basketball team with a role. Martin Zhou.

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