Beijing will be remembered for China's tremendous breakthrough, the 43 world records here being refreshed and the heroically personal performance by Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt after 16 action-packed days of Olympic Games.
Over 10,500 athletes competing for 906 medals in 28 different sports will say goodbye to the Beijing Games, concluding what was the most watched and competitive Olympics ever, here Sunday evening when the flame that has been blazing for 17 days above the Bird's Nest is snuffed out.
Shall their marks be cherished forever in Beijing as well as in the Olympic history.
Fifty-five countries and regions have been listed on the final gold medal table, and the number amounts to 87 as it went to count on the delegations having won a medal at least, seven more than the previous high in the Sydney Olympic Games eight years ago.
Forty-three world records have been set, while more than 120 Olympic marks have been established.
China, which won 32 golds four years ago in Athens, have claimed a haul of 51 titles to top the gold medal tally, which in general views marks the most accepted measure of Olympic supremacy.
It's the first time in history for China to lead the category, which makes the host nation a most success in two decades since the Soviet Union won 55 in the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Also, the United States came out the winner, from a different view, by winning 110 medal in all, eight more than that they won four years ago, to break their own record of total medals in a non-boycotted Olympics.
And their gold medal collection marked the second with 36, only trailing the Chinese.
Russia, regarded the delegation with the biggest setback, has down from 27 golds and 92 medals in total four years ago in Athens to 23 golds and 72 medals in all.
A remarkable improvement has been achieved by Britain, which took over the flag from Beijing for next Olympics in London, as they had its best Olympics in a century with 19 gold medals and sat on the fourth following Team Russia.
There're three other nations claimed more than ten gold medals, namingly Germany, Australia and South Korea, making the total number of golds won by the top seven delegations amounted to 172, bettering half of the gold medals in offer.
It was also a forever remembered Olympics for outstanding individuals here.
The Beijing Games have come a coronation for the 23-year-old swimmer Phelps from the United States and the 22-year-old sprinter Bolt of Jamaica, who transformed themselves from notable names within their own sports into global sporting superstars in the past two weeks.
Phelps' relentless brilliance defied history and science as the seven world records and eight golds piled up in the Water Cube, while Bolt glided gloriously clear in the 100m before he worked his golden spikes off in the 200m.
And Britain have their own heroine as Rebecca Adlington won the country's first female swimming gold since 1962.
Tremendous breakthrough
Fielding a 639-athlete delegation, China came out the seventh tally leader in history, beating the all-time leaders U. S. and Russia.
The nation has been spread over 17 different events to win 100 medals, including 21 silvers and 28 bronze adding to 51 golds, though only one gold in the medal-rich sports of athletics and swimming having been won by the hosts.
China dominated both the men's and women's weightlifting, pulling down eight golds, only one less than gymnastics. Other traditional sports of the country have also been guaranteed in diving, table tennis and badminton.
More notably, the host nation won its first ever in sailing, beach volleyball and field hockey, in addition to the five in shooting and solos in archery, fencing, rowing, canoeing, swimming, and taekwondo.
(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2008)