Published : 24/08/2025
On August 24, 2008, the closing ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games was grandly held at the Beijing National Stadium.
Athletes, coaches, and guests from various countries and regions celebrated the successful completion of the Beijing Olympics together.
Hu Jintao(胡錦濤), the then President of China, along with other party and national leaders including Jiang Zemin (江澤民), Wu Bangguo (吳邦國), Wen Jiabao (溫家寶), Xi Jinping (習近平), and Li Keqiang (李克強), Jacques Rogge, the then President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch, the lifetime honorary president of IOC, as well as leaders and distinguished guests from all over the world attended the closing ceremony.
Accompanied by lively and beautiful music, the flag bearers holding the flags of the 204 delegations participating in the Beijing Olympics entered the stadium. The flag of the Greek delegation, the birthplace of the Olympic Movement, entered first, followed by the flag of the host Chinese delegation entering last.
The athletes of each delegation entered simultaneously from four channels, led by the medal-winning athletes. The audience waved colourful silk fans and gave enthusiastic cheers to the athletes, expressing their respect.
Liu Qi (劉淇), the then Chairman of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, delivered a speech at the closing ceremony.
On behalf of the Beijing Organising Committee, he expressed gratitude to the IOC, various international sports organisations, and the National Olympic Committees of various countries and regions, as well as to all friends who contributed to the success of this Olympics.
Liu stated that although the Olympic flame would soon extinguish, the passionate fire of the Chinese people embracing the world would forever burn, sincerely wishing for the continuous development of the Olympic Movement.
Mr. Rogge, the then President of the International Olympic Committee, also delivered a speech at the closing ceremony. He mentioned that this was truly an unparalleled Olympic Games, and the 16 glorious days would be cherished forever.
Finally, Rogge announced the closing of the 29th Olympic Games and called for a reunion at the 30th Olympic Games in London four years later.
During the Beijing Olympics, over 10,000 athletes from 204 countries and regions challenged their limits and reached new heights, breaking 38 world records and 85 Olympic records. Many countries and regions achieved their first-ever Olympic gold medals and medals.
As the host country, China made tremendous efforts to make the Beijing Olympics a distinctive and high-level event, with excellent competition venues and outstanding organisational services, earning widespread praise from the international community.
The Chinese delegation achieved an excellent result of 51 gold medals and 100 medals overall, ranking 1st in the gold medal count for the first time in the history of the Chinese delegation's participation in the Olympics.