By John Kaponi

In a spectacular closing ceremony Beijing formally closed the 2008 amidst a euphoria and coming top in the medals table. London has celebrated the long path followed by Beijing with street ceremonies all over the United Kingdom with the epicenter of these in central London around Buckingham Palace.

"A truly exceptional games" Jacque Rogge Chairman of the IOC in his closing address in Beijing. 

The Mayor of London has officially received the Olympic flag, at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games.

Boris Johnson was handed the flag by IOC President, Jacques Rogge, in front of a capacity crowd of 91,000 people at the national stadium in Beijing and an estimated television audience of well over a billion viewers.

The Mayor waved the flag four times, as directed, before handing it to an usher. He will bring the flag back to London on Tuesday and fly it outside City Hall alongside the Paralympic flag when those Games have concluded in September.

He will also display the flag at a major celebration in Beijing tonight for athletes, organisers, senior politicians including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, spectators and the media.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

"I'm profoundly humbled by the immense privilege I've been given today. I'm also intensely proud. Proud of the athletes who pulled in the best medal tally for decades. Proud of the people behind them who've delivered this stunning success. And proud beyond all that London is now in charge of the Olympic legacy. The next Summer Games return to a country which I frequently boast has either invented or codified just about every major world sport. We will draw on that heritage and we will draw on our wit, flair, imagination and ingenuity to build on what we've all witnessed in Beijing and deliver a fantabulous Olympics in what I consider to be not only my home, but the home of sport. Sport is coming home. See you in London!"

PHOTO CREDIT: FLICKR.COM BORIS IN BEIJING