Paul Kitagaki Jr. / Sacramento Bee / MCT
Fireworks explode over the stadium during the closing ceremony of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing on Sunday. | Closing ceremony slide show | More Olympics photos | Audio slide show: U.S. men take gold from Spain in basketball
Helena Hau / MCT
Olympic fantasia in Beijing - day or night. The closing ceremony is just as amazing as the opening.
Competition outside the newsroom | Vendors try to make a living | Dancing with Usain Bolt | Everybody loves panda | Michael Phelps talks about his experiences | Sports columnist Joe Posnanski's bargaining experience at Silk Market | Protecting the Terracotta Warriors | Young Generation of Volunteers | More Olympics videos
The so-called "Redeem Team" got its gold medal in basketball and a "gold star" for deportment. The volleyball team finished an Olympics that started with an unthinkable tragedy by winning gold. And the water polo squad almost made it a perfect final day of the Summer Games for American men's team sports. » read more
The sports writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader is in Beijing covering the Summer Games.

Saturday, Aug. 23, looking southwest across Beijing's Avenue of Eternal Peace. (Tim Johnson / MCT)
Photo gallery starting August 3, 2008 of air conditions in Beijing
Ministry of Environmental Protection's current pollution reading for Beijing