Spectacular Paralympics 2012 Closing Ceremony
And so an amazing summer of sport was celebrated last night at The London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony. The Paralympic athletes were joined in spectacular style by global superstars, including Coldplay, Rihanna and Jay-Z in a spectacular celebration of the Paralympic athlete's achievements.
The ceremony also honoured servicemen and women, and particularly the work of charity Help for Heroes, with Captain Luke Sinnott, a double amputee, climbing to the top of the flag pole to hoist the Union Flag. A motorcade of weird and wonderful vehicles then stormed into the Olympic Stadium, as ex-serviceman Rory Mackenzie delivered a rousing speech.
The evening also saw the Paralympic Flag was handed over to Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, cueing a colourful musical performance by Rio 2016.
At the end of the night, as the Paralympic Flame began to fade, ParalympicsGB gold medallists Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock transferred the Flame to a Paralympic Torch. They then proceeded to light hundreds of torches held by members of the cast throughout the field of play before it was extinguished.
And at 1 30 today about 800 British stars of the Olympics and Paralympics are due to celebrate their success with a victory parade through the streets of central London later. –The athletes are set to travel on 21 open-top floats, grouped in alphabetical order by their sport, for what is being called "The Greatest Team Parade".
Written and Presented by Ann Salter