Greek weightlifer Pyrros Dimas (left) and Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang leading the flagbearers during the closing ceremony
The flag bearers of 202 National Olympic Committees entered the stadium in a single file in Greek alphabetical order, followed by the athletes. The Greek and Chinese flag bearers, weightlifter Pyrros Dimas and Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, entered first as they were the current and next host nation.[6]
Speeches and Games declares closed
ATHOCPresidentGianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, IOC PresidentJacques Rogge delivered their speeches, the latter in Greek, French, and English. IOC President Rogge declared the closing of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, thanking Athens ("Ευχαριστούμε, Αθήνα. Ευχαριστούμε, Ελλάδα." - "Thank you, Athens. Thank you, Greece.")[7] and calling upon the youth of the world to assemble 4 years from now in Beijing in accordance with tradition. He also awarded the Olympic Order in Gold to Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalki, President of the Athens Organizing Committee.
Newly elected athlete members of the International Olympic Committee
Both Greek and Chinese flags were raised following the handover.
Lowering the Olympic flag
The Olympic flag was lowered, while the Greek choirs sang the Olympic Anthem in Greek. The flag was raised again in Turin, Italy during the opening ceremony at Stadio Olimpico on the evening of 10 February, 2006.
Extinguishing of the Olympic flame
The cauldron of the Olympic flame was lowered, followed by the Greek 10-year-old girl Fotini Papaleonidopoulou[8] from SOS Children's Villages lighting a lantern with the Olympic flame with the help of sailing gold medalists Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa. The lantern was then passed onto other children from around the world, before the flame in the cauldron was blown out.
