Paralympic Games close in spectacular style in London

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Paralympic Games in London drew to a close in spectacular style last night in a “Festival of the Flame” honoring Britain’s ancient traditions and festivals and marking the end of 11 days of sport, scotsman.com reports.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games closing ceremony was set to see Coldplay, one of Britain’s best-selling music acts, joined by global superstars Rihanna and Jay-Z in a spectacular celebration of achievements of the Paralympic athletes and an amazing summer of sport.

Event organizers have hailed the “seismic effect in shifting public attitudes” to disability sports, claiming the games
have changed public perception forever.

Central to the ceremony – called the “Festival of the Flame” – were the 4,200 Paralympians from 164 nations who sat around the field of play from the start.

Blind autistic singer Lissa Hermans, who also performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year, sang the National
 Anthem.

The ceremony included some stunning effects and more than 1,000 performers, including a cast of disabled artists, who had spent weeks learning circus skills for the show.

London mayor Boris Johnson was expected to pass the Paralympic Flag to the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes.

As the Paralympic cauldron was extinguished, they were expected to transfer the final flame to a London Paralympic Torch, then to be used to light hundreds of torches held by
members of the cast throughout the field of play.

Fountains of water were then set to rise from circular stages to extinguish the Paralympic Flame.