'Happy and glorious': praise for the London 2012 Olympic Games
International
Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declared the London 2012
Olympic Games 'happy and glorious' as the spectacular Closing Ceremony
brought the curtain down on the Games.
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques
Rogge, declared the Games of the 30th Olympiad closed just before
midnight: 'We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support
of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these Games.
He
also thanked the public for their enthusiastic support. 'You, the
spectators and the public, provided the soundtrack for these Games. Your
enthusiastic cheers energised its competitors and brought a festive
spirit to every Olympic venue.'
London 2012 Chair Seb Coe thanked
the hundreds of thousands of people who helped to make the last 16 days
a success during the stunning ceremonial finale to the Olympic Games.
He
said: 'The British people got behind London's bid and they got behind
London's Games. Our Opening Ceremony proclaimed that these would be a
Games for everyone. At our Closing Ceremony, we can say that these were a
Games by everyone.'
In addition to thanking those who built the
venues and helped organise the Games, Seb Coe played tribute to the
athletes for their outstanding performances. 'To all the Olympians who
came to London to compete - thank you. Those of us who came to watch
witnessed moments of heroism and heartbreak that will live long in the
memory. You have our admiration and our congratulations.'
He
added: 'On the first day of these Games I said we were determined to do
it right. I said that these Games would see the best of us.
'On this last day I can conclude with these words: When our time came - Britain, we did it right. Thank you!'
The grand finale of the Games saw the Olympic Flame extinguished in a spectacular sequence.
Each participating team will receive one of the Olympic Cauldron's petals to take home with them.
The
spectacular ceremony also looked forward to the next summer Olympic
Games in 2016, as the Olympic Flag was handed over to the Mayor of Rio
de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes.
Her Majesty The Queen sent her own
special message of congratulations after the event. 'The outstanding
performance of Team GB, in achieving the greatest Olympic success since
1908, will, I am sure, have inspired a new generation of Olympians and
reminded us all how sport unifies communities and nations.
'I
congratulate, too, the organisers of the Games, as well as the thousands
of volunteers who have epitomised the Olympic spirit through the warm
welcome they have shown to the sporting teams and spectators from all
around the world.'
Opening Ceremony (2 dvd)
Closing Ceremony (2 dvd)
Source:
http://www.london2012.com/news/articles/seb-coe-pays-tribute-athletes-volunteers-and-spectators-closing-ceremony.html
