LONDON — They were a captive audience at first.
No longer at play, the world’s athletes returned to Olympic Stadium, some gilded, others in desperate need of relief, and stood corralled in eight groupings as a parade of supermodels and Spice Girls seized the stage.
PHOTOS: THE BEST PICTURES OF THE 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES
After being held in place by volunteers for more than an hour Sunday night, small groupings of athletes broke out, off to celebrate away from the Closing Ceremony’s unwieldy, yet colorful, performances that concluded the third Games hosted by England.
London Mayor Boris Johnson hands over the Olympic flag to Jacques Rogge the President of the International Olympic Committee.
They could not outrun the far-reaching afterglow of the Games, though, as fireworks lit the sky and sound carried into the night.
“When our time came, Britain, we did it right,” said Sebastian Coe, the organizing committee chairman.
Sixteen days of gold, silver and bronze were celebrated in the three-hour concert. Sound waves washed over the crowd, carrying a hopeful message as the flame was extinguished at midnight. Brazil, the next host of the Games, in 2016, accepted responsibility for the future, introducing itself as a dance-happy culture that will offer spirited contrasts to the English approach that worked so well.
For Sunday, the manner was pure English. The medley mixed John Lennon’s imagination with London’s daily reality.
Gray newsprint emblazoned with bylines from British writers like William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens gave way to pop singers with pink backgrounds.
Victoria Beckham is not to be outdone.
London proved exceptionally efficient hosts.
What began with a flag flap involving North Korea at a soccer match, transitioned smoothly through the competition and ended with organizers prodding the athletes to jog, rather than walk during the entrance, in order to stay on schedule.
The last to enter were the ones who stayed on their feet longest.
Brian May of Queen performs alongside Jessie J during the Closing Ceremony.
They were introduced separately as the three medalists in the men’s marathon, which had been won by Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich.
“These were happy and glorious Games,” International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said.
A Phoenix is seen over the Olympic Flame during the Closing Ceremony.
Portugal's Nuno Delgado (r.) dances with performers.
This was not director Danny Boyle’s Opening Ceremony that was celebrated for weaving protest with English pride, but there were high points, too. Rogge reminded the crowd that “you provided the soundtrack of these Games.
“You have showed the world of the best of British hospitality,” he said.
Why yes, you are looking at a flying cyclist.
Flag bearers hold the national flags at the Closing Ceremony.
They did not want to go home. When the flame was extinguished, they let out a collective sigh, but then more music came as the athletes marched out to The Who singing “Baba O’Riley”:
British artist Fatboy Slim performs under what appears to be a giant octopus.
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