The Olympics have closed

The 2012 Summer Olympics have closed in London. The ceremony took place on Sunday evening. The fire was extinguished and the flag was handed over to the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, the city that will host the Olympics in 2016.

The program for the closing ceremony of the XXX Games was kept secret until the very end. Like the opening ceremony, the show that concluded the Olympics was colorful and memorable. The flag of the Russian team was carried into the stadium by synchronized swimmer Anastasia Davydova, who became a five-time Olympic champion in London.

Flag bearers. Photo: Reuters

Olympic flame. Photo: Reuters

The ceremony ended with a grand fireworks display. Photo: Reuters

Both politicians and stars of British show business took part in the final Olympic show. The bands Muse, Pet Shop Boys, Take That, The Who and even the Spice Girls performed at the Olympic Stadium. Supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell walked down the impromptu catwalk, dressed in dresses by British fashion designers.

Performance by Fatboy Slim. Photo: Reuters

Performance by Fatboy Slim. Photo: Reuters

Queen is on stage at the Olympic Stadium . Photo: Reuters

Members of the Spice Girls rode onto the stage on the roofs of legendary London cabs. Photo: Reuters

One of the Spice Girls Victoria Beckham on the roof of a cab. Photo: Reuters

Spice Girls at the Olympics closing ceremony. Photo: Reuters

An actor climbs into a giant cannon at the Olympics closing ceremony. Photo: Reuters

Top models on stage at the Olympic Stadium. Photo: Reuters

Top model Naomi Campbell. Photo: Reuters

Singer George Michael. Photo: Reuters

Performance on scooters. Photo: Reuters

John Lennon's song became the Olympic anthem. Viewers were shown a video of the legendary Beatles member performing the song "Imagine".

Photo: Reuters

A giant portrait of John Lenon made from panels. Photo: Reuters

Instead of Elizabeth II, the royal family was represented at the closing ceremony by her grandson Prince Harry and Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, as well as the Queen's daughter Princess Anne.

Prince Harry and Kate Middleton. Photo: Reuters

Performance by British actor Eric Idle. Photo: Reuters

The closing ceremony was the most musical in the history of the Games. After the musical part, London Mayor Boris Johnson handed over the Olympic flag to IOC head Jacques Rogge. He, in turn, gave it to the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes. The next Olympics will be held in Brazil. After this, the Olympic flame in London went out, and fireworks flashed in the sky.

The Olympic flame at the central London stadium. Photo: Reuters

Before the fire was put out, a phoenix flew around it. Photo: Reuters

Olympic flag. Photo: Reuters

Boris Johnson hands over the Olympic flag through the head of the IOC to the mayor of Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Reuters

The closing show for the Olympics ended with fireworks. Photo: Reuters

Thousands of people were not disappointed with the fireworks. Photo: Reuters

Olympic Stadium. Photo: Reuters