13 August 2012 - The London Olympic Games brought down the curtain on Sunday with the United States topping the final standings with 46 gold medals and 104 overall, followed by China with 38 golds and 87 in all and Britain with 29 golds and 65 in all, the best ever results for the host country.

The closing ceremony featured music stars from the past five decades of British popular music. (Photos China Sports Online/Wei Zheng & Bai Yu unless otherwise specified)

The stems of the Olympic Cauldron open outwards as 
the outline of a flaming, 20m-wide phoenix rises out of it.

The Spice Girls reunite to perform on top of black cabs.


Athletes from all parts of the world gather at the closoing ceremony.

 
Team China marches in.

 
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes flies the Olympic 
Flag during the Closing Ceremony. (Photo LOCOG)

 
An 8-minute performance by Rio 2016, host of the next Olympic Games.

 
A fireworks display at Olympic Stadium ends the Closing 
Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Photo LOCOG)

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