The 2008 Olympic Games drew to a glittering close yesterday inside the Bird�s Nest Stadium in Beijing.

WILLIAM TINNING and DOUG GILLON

The 2008 Olympic Games drew to a glittering close yesterday inside the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing.

Earlier trepidation before the Games - which included fears over security, political protests, China's human rights record and the air quality - were firmly put aside as celebrations got under way to mark what have been described as the greatest Olympics ever.

The appetites for more entertainment in the packed stadium were whetted during more than two weeks of sporting action, the highlights of which included a record eight gold medals by US swimmer Michael Phelps and three sprint world records broken by Jamaican Usain Bolt in achieving a hat-trick of gold medals.

Spectacular fireworks kicked off the closing proceedings, while a beautifully choreographed drumming and dancing display recalled the opening ceremony.

Exuberant athletes joined dancers and musicians in getting into the party spirit at the futuristic Bird's Nest stadium where London's reign as Olympic host city was also marked when mayor Boris Johnson received the Olympic banner to signal the countdown to 2012.

Scottish triple gold medallist Chris Hoy carried the flag for Team GB as the 205 bearers led the way for the thousands of athletes at the closing ceremony of the 29th Games of the modern Olympiad.

After speeches from Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organising Committee, and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, the Beijing Games were officially declared over.

"We have come to the end of 16 days which we will cherish for ever," Mr Rogge said.

"New stars were born and stars from previous Games continued to amaze us. We shared their joys and their tears and marvelled at their abilities, and will long remember their achievements here. These were a truly exceptional Games."

The Union flag was raised and the national anthem God Save the Queen was sung by the National Youth Theatre before Giu Jinlong, the mayor of Beijing, and Mr Rogge handed over the Olympic flag to Mr Johnson.

London's chance to impress the world had begun. Where Beijing relied on vast numbers of participants, London used fame and popular culture, including football star David Beckham, pop diva Leona Lewis and rock legend Jimmy Page.

An eight-minute segment for London organisers to offer a flavour of the 2012 Games began with a red double- decker bus driving around the athletics track inside the stadium, pursued by gold medal-winning cyclists Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Jamie Staff, and being surrounded by dancers when it halted.

Tayyiba Dudhwala, 10, from east London, chosen in a Blue Peter competition, came out of the bus to receive a football from another girl, Erika Tham. Former X-Factor winner Lewis then emerged from the roof on a rising column dressed in gold and singing an R'n'B aria.

As the music reached a crescendo, Led Zeppellin stalwart Page came out on a rising stage with a guitar and, after a pause, the unmistakable first riffs of Whole Lotta Love blasted out.

Towards the end of the song, David Beckham - to huge cheers from the crowd - appeared on another lift accompanied by Tayyiba, plus a violinist and a cellist from the London Symphony Orchestra dressed in Team GB kit.

The effect was what London had hoped to achieve - a combination of pop, culture, fashion and sport.

After the ceremony, Hoy said: "I'm still pretty stunned by everything. It's been an amazing few days. It's a huge honour, a massive honour, to be carrying the flag in the closing ceremony - even more so because of the standard of the British team this year. To be involved in the handover for the London Games is a very special honour for me, but it's all as a team.

"We have achieved beyond what was expected, but we knew it was possible. But altogether, at the same time, it's wonderful, and it's something I will remember for the rest of my life."

Mr Johnson promised to fly the Olympic flag outside City Hall in London when he brings it home from China tomorrow. At a party in Beijing to celebrate the handover of the Olympics to London, Johnson told the assembled Team GB athletes and officials that Britain invented "ping pong", the game beloved of the Chinese. He said: "Ping pong was invented on the dining tables of England in the 19th century and it was called whiff whaff.

"Other nations - the French - looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner. We looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to play whiff whaff.

"That is why London is the sporting capital of the world. And I say to the Chinese, and I say to the world - ping pong is coming home, athletics is coming home, sport is coming home."

On a more diplomatic note, Gordon Brown presented a gift to his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao at a private meeting on Friday. The present was a statue of Eric Liddell, who won the 400m at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. The son of Scottish parents was born and died in China and is sometimes referred to here as China's first Olympic champion.

Meanwhile, Downing Street last night condemned tourism body Visit London after a painting of moors murderer Myra Hindley was shown on a promotional video being screened in Beijing.

The notorious piece of art by Marcus Harvey was seen during a segment of the video filmed in a gallery where it was on display. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The use of this image is in extremely poor taste and it should not have been used to promote London."

In a statement, Visit London said: "There has never been a complaint made about the video up until this point.

"However, if any offence has been caused we will withdraw it from use with immediate effect."