Special Report: 2008 Olympic Games
Special: The closing ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games

    BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, which ended on Sunday, has been hailed by media across the world as a huge success.

    The Beijing Olympics "was perfect and 'glared' the world for 16 days ... The Games will be remembered as the most praised ones of history," said Mexico's Daily "Reforma."

Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the performance of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo Gallery>>>

 

    Another Mexican daily, Excelsior, quoted TV commentator Gerardo Liceaga, who spoke highly of the organizers' work during the Games, as commenting that "the facilities were unsurpassable, the organization a model of efficiency, with a great transportation with adequate information and high-level computing systems. Nothing escaped from the Organization Committee."

    The newspaper praised the marvelous performance of the Chinese athletes, who won 51 gold medals and 100 medals in all and surpassed the United States on gold medals, by saying "the Asian giant finished waking up."

    Austrian media considered Beijing's hosting of the Olympic Games a "window" for the whole world to understand more about China and to see the rapid development achieved in recent decades.

    "No other Olympics hosting countries receive such high recognition from the world as Beijing does," Austrian media quoted Hans Holdhaus, an official with Austria's Olympic delegation, as saying.

    New Vision, an official newspaper of Uganda, said in a commentary that the well-prepared Beijing Olympics showcased to the world China's strength, modernity, as well as the high standard of its athletes.

    The commentary also commended the closing ceremony, saying that gorgeous fireworks and fine performances by entertainers from both China and all over the world made the ceremony a fantastic farewell party.

    It said London might be "in trouble" now as it seems a hard task for the city to surpass Beijing in the four years to come in its preparation work for the 2012 Games.

    An article titled "China opens to the world, world focuses on China," which was published on Bolivian newspaper La Razon, said the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics led the world into a journey of China's splendid culture and history.

    The passion and hospitality of the Chinese people also added color to the Games and impressed the whole world, making the sports gala in Beijing an incomparable event, said the article.

    One of Yemen's major newspapers, Al-Gumhuryyah, dedicated a whole page to a report titled "Farewell, Beijing!" in which the author said, "China has once promised to the world that it would host a best ever Olympics, now it becomes a reality."

    Beijing has hosted a "memorable" and "exceptional" Olympic Games, an article published in Cote d'Ivoire's newspaper L'Inter said Monday.

    Praising the enormous work done by the organizers and the numerous new world records set during the Beijing Olympics, the article said the Games seemed just perfect.

Foreign leaders hail successful Beijing Olympics

    BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Foreign leaders recently conveyed their appreciation of the just-concluded Beijing Olympic Games to Chinese leaders President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping, hailing China's efforts in hosting a successful and wonderful event.

King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia said the 2008 Beijing Games was of profound significance and revealed China's great achievements to the whole world. Full story

World joins China in revelry as "truly exceptional" Beijing Olympics come to end

    BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The competitions are over and the party begins, all medals were given out but the memory stays. In a lavish closing ceremony illuminated by a fireworks extravaganza, the world's top athletes joined their Chinese hosts to celebrate the success of the 29th summer Olympic Games on Sunday night.

    When the Olympic flame, after 16 days of burning in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing, went out at 9:24 p.m. Sunday, a gala of songs and dances was staged in the stadium, turning the ceremony into a big party. Full story

IOC chief: Beijing Olympic Games "truly exceptional Games"

    BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic Games are "truly exceptional Games," said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge at the Games' closing ceremony staged in the National Stadium in northern Beijing on Sunday night.

    "Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world. Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees came to these dazzling venues and awed us with their talent," Rogge said in his closing speech. Full story