Ray Davies sings 'Waterloo Sunset', during the Closing Ceremony
Artists arrange white boxes within the Olympic Stadium. The boxes represent the 303 events that took place during London 2012
The boxes form a pyramid in the centre of the stage
As the day drew to a close, The Kinks' frontman Ray Davies arrived in a black cab singing his 1960s hit Waterloo Sunset.
As a funfair scene emerged, a shimmering river of 270 children from 10 schools in the six east London host boroughs weaved its way through the melee to Sande's reprise of Read All About It.
As many of the 10,000 athletes from the 204 nations involved in the Games flooded into the stadium, filling the areas between the ramped stage, they joined hands during Elbow's performance of Open Arms and One Day Like This.Huge cheers greeted British sailor Ben Ainslie as he carried the Union flag into the stadium.
'Wow. This is it... The end,' Ainslie tweeted.
'We should all be very proud to have held the greatest Olympics in modern times. Huge thanks to everyone involved.
Following the flag-bearers, thousands of athletes walked through the spectators, medals round their necks, high-fiving fans and waving to the cameras.
A British military marching band performs Blur song Parklife during the Closing Ceremony
Flying the flag: The bright colours of the Union Jacks being waved and on the set floor provided a sharp contrast to the white and black newspaper print
Bang on: Stomp performs in front of the London skyline stage set
But conscious of the night's tight timings, a series of stage hands clad in black ran alongside the athletes, comically lifting their knees to their chest to hurry them along.
As athletes gathered in the segments between the ramps to the stage, some perched on others' shoulders.
And while the fans eagerly videoed and took photos of their sporting heroes, the athletes could be seen returning the favour, clutching their own cameras to capture the crowd on film.
Billions of viewers were treated to another interpretation of the Union Flag as the athletes, in their national colours, formed a mosh pit around the stage.
White boxes representing the 303 Olympic events formed a pyramid on to which the winners, losers, blood, sweat and tears from London 2012 were projected.
After the traditional men's marathon victory ceremony, the 70,000 volunteer Games Makers were honoured with a shower of petals before darkness and silence descended.
The showcase of British music continued with the voice of Freddie Mercury singing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Boy band One Direction perform during the Olympic Closing Ceremony
Neil Tennant, singer of the Pet Shop Boys, performs during the Closing Ceremony
Closing: As the sun sets in London, the Olympic Stadium prepares for the London 2012 closing ceremony
From the darkness along the ramps, a sculpture of John Lennon's face was formed as Imagine was sung by choirs from his birthplace, Liverpool.
George Michael came in singing his 1990s anthem Freedom '90 before segueing into his latest record White Light.
Spotlights then picked out the Kaiser Chiefs playing The Who's Pinball Wizard after a dark blue light descended on the stadium.
As inflatable silver pinballs bounced around the athletes, Kaiser Chief Ricky Wilson joined 50 Mods on scooters for the performance.
A sequence of sound waves were sent around the stadium on more than 70,000 pixel screens next to each seat before floating up to form images of David Bowie on the screens.
A compilation in homage to Bowie culminated in Fashion before stunning billboard images of nine British supermodels preceded their entrance.
As the drapes were pulled off, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, wearing Alexander McQueen, strutted along shimmering catwalks forming the Union Jack.
With the Olympic cauldron shrouded in smoke, Annie Lennox emerged on the figurehead of a ghost galleon to perform Little Bird.
As the ship faded back into the smoke, two men in 1970s business suits walked a tightrope high above the field of play before shaking hands and bursting into flames, recreating the album cover of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here.
Ed Sheeran was joined by original Floyd drummer Nick Mason, The Feeling's Richard Jones and Genesis founder Mike Rutherford for the hit.
As segments of daily British life were shown to the crowds, comedian Russell Brand arrived on a psychedelic tour bus performing Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Beatles' I Am The Walrus with string quartet Bond.
The bus transformed into a fluorescent 50m octopus as Fatboy Slim rose from its head, spinning his decks as dancers performed to his hits Right Here, Right Now and The Rockafeller Skank.
Beginning of the end: Following on from Kenneth Brannagh's turn in the Opening Ceremony, actor Timothy Spall - in character as Winston Churchill - also read lines from Shakespeare's The Tempest to start the evening
Actor Timothy Spall poses as Sir Winston Churchill atop Big Ben, while Julian Lloyd Webber accompanies him on the cello
From classical to pop: An artist plays the cello during the closing ceremony, which celebrated music across the centuries, as well as the decades
From limousines circling the track, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz emerged singing their respective hits Price Tag, Written in the Stars and Dynamite before joining together for the Bee Gees' disco tune You Should Be Dancing.
After a balletic performance of 10 taxis, five came to life illuminated in baby pink, sporty stripes, posh dynamite, the Union Flag and a scary animal print.
It was, of course, the much-anticipated reunion of the Spice Girls - reformed for one night only to perform Spice Up Your Life and Wannabe from the roofs of the cabs.
Former Oasis star Liam Gallagher continued the run of British classics with his band Beady Eye for the 1990s hit WonderWall.
As Electric Light Orchestra's Mr Blue Sky filled the stadium, home-made flying machines made several attempts to get off the ground as a would-be rocket man played by Monty Python comedian Eric Idle collapsed under the stage, only to return to lead the crowds in a new version of Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.
Joined by a surreal collection of jigging Morris Dancers, a choir of rugby players and skating nuns, a human cannonball was launched across the stadium.
Muse, known for their fascination with outer space, took to the stage next with their London 2012 Olympic song Survival.
Four tipper trucks, driven to centre stage, exploded in a fury of pyrotechnics as their raised tailgates became screens showing footage of Freddie Mercury performing live in 1986 at Wembley Stadium.
With "deyo, deyo" ringing out across the stadium, Queen's Roger Taylor emerged while bandmate Brian May made his way through the crowd performing the guitar solo from Brighton Rock before joining Jessie J for the classic anthem We Will Rock You.
Read all about it: A London street scene was played out - with the whole set wrapped in newspaper
Classic comedy: Del Boy and Rodney's Reliant Robin explodes during the closing ceremony
Only Fools and Horses: Del Boy and Rodney, dressed as Batman and Robin, appear in the stadium
Masters of the House: Madness ¿ led by frontman Suggs ¿ perform Our House during a street party scene
Royal laughs: Prince Harry and Kate Middleton share a joke during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
As an arrow pointed to Rio de Janeiro, the host city for 2016, the Greek flag was raised in honour of the origins of the Games.
After the Olympic Flag was lowered by members of the armed forces, the Olympic Anthem rang out sung by the London Welsh Male Voice Choir and the London Welsh Rugby Club Choir.
The capital's mayor Boris Johnson had the honour of passing the flag to Mr Rogge, who in turn presented it to Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, each waving the traditional four times.
Celebrating the first time a South American country hosts the Games, a mix of cultures, music and dance marked the handover.
From a solitary street cleaner practising Samba steps, a carnival parade invaded the stage as Brazilian pop singer Marisa Monte entered with a giant gown representing water goddess Yemanja, who is celebrated on New Year's Eve on Copacabana Beach.
Actor-singer Seu Jorge joined an acrobatic group of Capoeira fighters and dancing couples, including model Alessandra Ambrosio, as the whole cast reunited in front of Rio's skyline.
London 2012 chair Sebastian Coe then joined IOC president Jacques Rogge on stage, and addressed the crowd.
The Locog boss said: ‘We lit the flame and we lit up the world. Once again we have shown ourselves worthy. For that I want to say thank you.’
‘Thank you to the people of this country. At our closing ceremony we can say these are a Games by everyone.’
Actors parade around the model of St Paul's wrapped in newsprint, during the opening stages of the closing ceremony
Artists wave Union Jack flags as they perform with cars, wrapped in newspaper, as the closing ceremony gets underway
Back on song: Emeli Sande, who sang Abide With Me during the Opening Ceremony, performs on the newspaper-covered stage
The colourful London landscape takes life in the centre of the Olympic Stadium, with Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the Gerkin taking centre-stage
CLOSING CEREMONY BY NUMBERS
2 cannons used during the closing ceremony.
4 tipper trucks used in one section of the extravaganza.
6 flying machines featured in the show.
20 large inflatable silver pinballs were released among the athletes.
At least 40 members of gymnastics troupe Spelbound.
40 hours three people spent lining up the images to the irregular shape of the seating bowls.
50 scooters pimped up by the cast themselves.
50, the diameter in metres of the octopus when fully extended.
101 fragments used to create the face of John Lennon.
108 vehicles in the first scene - 10 black cabs, 10 wedding cars, 10 vintage cars, 10 sports cars, 10 modern cars, 10 cars with trailers, 10 trucks, 10 mopeds, four white vans, eight bikes, eight folding bikes, and eight skateboards.
270 children formed the River Thames from 10 schools.
3,500 in the cast of the London 2012 closing ceremony.
5,600 square metres - the specially commissioned floor covering created by Damien Hirst.
10,000 lights used to transform the newsprint city into a luminous fun fair in the fairground scene.
70,799 small panels mounted between the seats to create the audience pixel screen, each one with nine LED pixels.
During a round of appreciation he offered his gratitude to the Olympic volunteers who gave their time ‘energy and goodwill, and ‘to the IOC who have been with us every step of the way.’
After thanking the athletes and before introducing IOC President Jacques Rogge, he added: ‘When our time came Britain we did it right – thank you.’
Rogge added: 'These were happy and glorious Games. The legacy of the Games of the XXX Olympiad will become clear in many ways.
'Concrete improvements in infrastructure will benefit the host nation for years to come.
'The human legacy will reach every region of the world.
'Many young people will be inspired to take up a sport or to pursue their dreams.'
Rogge said the 17 days of the Olympics had been "unforgettable" and he paid tribute to London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.
'The organising committee, well supported by the public authorities, did a superb job," he said.
'We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these Games.
'You, the spectators and the public, provided the soundtrack for these Games.
'Your enthusiastic cheers energised the competitors and brought a festive spirit to every Olympic venue.
'You have shown the world the best of British hospitality.'
Dead on midnight the flame that reached all corners of the UK over 70 days was extinguished.
As the dying flame flickered in the Olympic cauldron, a new flame emerged in the form of a phoenix suspended above the audience.
After much speculation over whether they would perform or not after Gary Barlow's tragic loss of his stillborn daughter, Take That - minus Robbie Williams whose wife is due to give birth - took to the stage with hit single Rule The World.
As they left the stage, the flaming figure of prima ballerina Darcey Bussell descended on the stadium from its roof, joining more than 200 ballerinas dancing to David Arnold's Spirit of the Flame.
After performing a mesmerising dance representing the fire in the torch, they moved towards the cauldron, bowing down below it.
As the stadium became a sea of red, white and blue for the grand finale, The Who burst into Baba O'Riley and See Me, Feel Me as a montage of faces, including volunteers, fans, security guards, youngsters and troops flashed across the screens.
Building to its climax, the faces multiplied, expressing a sense of unity in the UK and beyond.
Bussell then led the Brazilian performers in a procession around the stadium.
Rock superstars The Who ended the night with a performance of Baba Reilly and a medley of their other hits, as a fireworks lit up the London sky.
And the Games were over.
80,000 people in the Olympic Stadium counted down to the beginning of the opening ceremony, to the chimes of a replica of Big Ben
Scaled-down London! Landmarks of the capital make up the set for the Closing Ceremony
Read more:
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Improvement: At the Closing Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium, Boris Johnson made a slightly better fist of waving the flag than he did in Beijing four years ago
Proud: London Mayor Boris Johnson watches on after passing the flag onto Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee
Embarrassing: During the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Games, Boris Johnson left many people back in the home red-faced as his hilariously waved the Olympic flag 
Strutting his stuff: Boris Johnson, second right, gives a perfect impression of 'dad dancing' next to his wife Marina Wheeler, far right
Celebration: A British athlete waves a Union Jack flag as athletes from all over the world parade during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in London
Going for a spin: British gymnast Louis Smith rides a scooter as the athletes march in during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
Flying the flag: As the athletes flooded into the Olympic stadium for the finale they formed the Union Flag
Glory: The home competitors ¿ dressed in their patriotic blue blazers, red trousers, and Union Flag motive T-Shirts finished the 16 days of competition with a total of 65 medals, including 29 golds
Coming together: Flagbearers take part in the athletes' march during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium
Stunning send off: Athletes enter the stadium, passing by the Olympic cauldron, during the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Games
Triumph: Men's marathon gold medalist Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich, center, is flanked by silver medalist Abel Kirui, of Kenya, left, and bronze medalist Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
Jubilant: Jessica Ennis is shown on the giant screen with her gold medal as part of the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympic games
Festival time: Spanish athletes parade during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Entente cordiale: British and French athletes put competition to the back of their mind as they mingle during the Closing Cermony
Going out with a bang: Thousands of athletes took centre stage during the spectacular Closing Ceremony
National flags are carried by flagbearers taking part in the athletes' march during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
Pressure's off: Members of Japan's Olympic team wave British and Japanese flags as they join a parade in front of thousands of spectators in the Olympic stadium
Golden girl: Marina Alabau Neira of Spain, gold medalist in the women's RS:X Sailing, holds up her medal during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Joyous: Ecstatic Ethiopia celebrate the end of their Olympics games with dancing as they come into the stadium during the Closing Ceremony
Jumping for joy: A French gymnast shows off his skills with a perfectly performed back flip in front of his teammates
All smiles: Prince Harry shares a joke with his brother's wife, the Duchess of Cambridge as the pair enjoy the Closing Ceremony
Celebration: Prince Harry took centre stage at the Closing Ceremony of London 2012 tonight as the most senior Royal in attendance
Having fun: The young Royals look like they are having a great time at the closing ceremony, which is showcasing British musical talent
Thrilled: The young Royals show their appreciation for some of the performers at the ceremony 
Respect: Prince Harry, the Duchess of Cambridge and Lord Coe stand for the national anthem at the Closing Ceremony
Animated: Prince Harry excitedly explains something to the Duchess of Cambridge during the spectacular show
Enthusiastic: The pair clap during the performances
Dignitaries: Princess Anne, second left, is also in attendance at the event. She is pictured next to Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee with Prince Harry and Duchess of Cambridge also looking on
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, takes her seat next to the Foreign Secretary William Hague
Friendly: The Duchess of Cambridge speaks with Prime Minister David Cameron, his wife Samantha and Lord Coe before the event got underway 
Proud: The Duchess of Cambridge, centre, is pictured at the Closing Ceremony next to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt
Getting ready: The Duchess of Cambridge takes her seat with Lord Coe before the ceremony got underway
Happy: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and the Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee Sebastian Coe, right, are pictured at the the Closing Ceremony
Royal: Prince Harry applauds during the Closing Ceremony. He was seen singing along to God Save the Queen'
Delighted: Prime Minister David Cameron enjoys the Closing Ceremony
Huge: More than 10,000 athletes have competed for 302 gold medals in 26 sports, across 16 days
Colourful: Flagbearers enter the Olympic stadium during the ceremony 
Finale: A heartstopping array of colours zigzag through the night sky above the Olympic Park as fireworks conclude the London 2012 Olympic Games
Alight: Fireworks explode into the London night sky as the Olympic closing ceremony comes to a spectacular end
Inside the stadium, audience members and athletes look on as the Olympic Park is illuminated by a breathtaking display
It's over: Fireworks light up the Olympic Village in Stratford, east London as London 2012 draws to an emotional close
Tickertape: Athletes react as confetti rains down on them during the Closing Ceremony
Rock behemoths: Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who headline the Olympic Closing ceremony with a medley of their biggest hits, including Baba O'Reilly
Take That: After much speculation over whether they would perform or not after Gary Barlow's tragic loss of his stillborn daughter, Take That - minus Robbie Williams whose wife is due to give birth - took to the stage with hit single Rule The World
As the flames in the Olympic cauldron get weaker, the phoenix flies higher over the crowd in the stadium below 
As the cauldron separated, the Olympic flame slowly faded until it was no more and the Games was officially over
Artists from the Royal Ballet, including British ballerina Darcy Bussell, perform as the Phoenix descends from the roof of the Olympic Stadium
Football superstar: Pele appears on stage, wearing Brazilian colours, for a performance with former street cleaner Renato Sorriso
Ready for Rio: Brazilian performers give the world a taste of what to expect when the Games moves to Rio de Janeiro in 2016
Proud: Locog chairman Lord Coe, right, delivers a speech as IOC President Jacques Rogge watches during the Closing Ceremony
London mayor Boris Johnson passes the Olympic Flag to Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, helped by IOC president Jacques Rogge
End of an era: The Olympic flag is lowered by representatives from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force
Brian May of Queen performs together with Jessie J during the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
From beyond the grave: The late Freddie Mercury, on a giant screen, leads Queen out onstage for their performance at the closing ceremony 
Muse's guitar player Matthew Bellamy joins a starstudded list of performers at the Olympic Closing Ceremony
Monty Python's Eric Idle tussles with a band of morris dancers as he performs to the 80,000-strong crowd inside the Olympic Stadium
Heavenly: Nun and angels form the backdrop for Monty Python star Eric Idle's Closing Ceremony performance
A brave performer is shot from a cannonball during Idle's sketch, a nod to Britain's rich comic history
Indie icon: Liam Gallagher and his band Beady eye followed The Spice Girls with a performance of Oasis number one hit Wonderwall
Spice up the stage: The Spice Girls reformed to perform a spectacular set on the top of black London taxis at the closing ceremony
Supermodel: As the stadium is turned into a giant catwalk, London-born model Kate Moss appears wearing a gold Alexander McQueen dress
Shimmering: Naomi Campbell, draped in gold, takes over, strutting in a dazzling gold McQueen dress with a long train
Style: Supermodels Lily Cole, Karen Elson, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell walk the catwalk in a show of British beauty and design
Arriving in style: Jessie J arrives onstage, performing in the back of a white Rolls Royce 
Trio: Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz perform during the closing ceremony
Right here, right now: British DJ and musician Fatboy Slim performed his most famous hits in a giant translucent octopus
Comedy star Russell Brand performs his sketch during the Olympic Games closing ceremony
Russell Brand sings I Am The Walrus aboard a psychedelic tour bus, a nod to the movement in British history notably popular with bands Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Stone Roses
British singer Ed Sheeran performs Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, accompanied by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason (not pictured) Mike Rutherford and The Feeling's Richard Jones
British singer Annie Lennox performs 'Little Bird' aboard a giant wooden gallion during the Closing Ceremony 
Mods: The Kaiser Chiefs perform The Who's Pinball Wizardon scooters during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
The reclusive singer took to the stage to perform for fans and athletes inside the Olympic Stadium
Imagine: A sculpture in the shape of late Beatles band member John Lennon is formed onstage during the Closing Ceremony
John Lennon's face appears on the big screen as a choir of 100 people from Liverpool, where Lennon was born, sing Imagine. The choir includes members of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir and Liverpool Signing choir
Flagbearers from participating nations parade during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
Represnting the world: Athletes from the 200 plus nations competing at London 2012 appear in the stadium, waving their nations' flags
Team GB: A British athlete dances with a Union flag as athletes from all over the world parade during the closing ceremony
Team GB: Sailing gold medal winner Ben Ainslie proudly carries the British flag into the Olympic Stadium
Athletes enter the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony
