2105: Now there is the presentation of a very special accolade, the Dr. Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award.
It is given to athletes who exemplify the Paralympic spirit, so let us take a moment to congratulate Irish double gold medalist Michael McKillop and Mary Zakayo of Kenya.
Dr. Whang Youn Dai has dedicated her life to the advancement of Paralympic sport.
2110: IT’S COLDPLAY TIME! “Us Against The World” is being performed by the iconic band, led by frontman and all-round nice guy Chris Martin.
2114: What’s Chris Martin’s favorite color? YELLOW! The band’s iconic hit is reverberating around the stadium. Get ready for one big sing-a-long.
“It was all yelllooooooooooooooowww…”
@pamealann Hopefully we have provided a suitable alternative! Yet more fire in the Olympic Stadium as Coldplay continue to entertain the hoards.
2122: Para-Para-Paradise next from Coldplay. How fitting this song is played at the end of an incredible Para-Para-Paralympics…
2127: You might want to put a coat on, it’s wintertime in our journey through the seasons. A snow queen is about to be unveiled as ice dancers perform around her. The queen is Vikoria Modesta, a lower-leg amputee who is a model and singer/songwriter.
21:42: Just in case you’re wondering -- So far in this Coldplay closing extravaganza we have heard “Us Against The World”, “Yellow”, “Paradise”, “42”, “God Put A Smile On Your Face”, “Clocks”.
Now on is “Charlie Brown”. The stadium is mesmerizing with fluorescent colors and the LED on the spectators chairs pulsing to the beat of the track. Can't help but jiggle and sway to the song in my seat!
21:46: Up next, the world's pop princess Rihanna enters the stadium dressed from head-to-toe in a brilliantly, billowing orange outfit. She joins Coldplay to duet their track, “Princess of China”.
2152: Accompanying Chris Martin’s vocals for the song “Strawberry Swing” is the The British Paraorchestra founded by Charles Hazlewood.
The orchestra is part of a 200-strong professional cast, ably supported by 1,300 volunteers and 120 child volunteers from east London schools.
2158: Rihanna is currently swinging from a high wire as everyone goes crazy for “We Found Love.” Cue more LED-based madness in the stands. The noise level raises yet again as Coldplay resume their tour de force with “Viva la Vida”…
2204: As confetti fills the Stratford air, a quick hat tip to the ladies and gentlemen behind this vivid spectacle.
Closing Ceremonies Artistic Director Kim Gavin
Music Director David Arnold
Designer Misty Buckley
Oscar winning film director Stephen Daldry.
2205: A collective sigh from the CNN blog team as the Paralympic flag is lowered, is it really all ending? The British Paraorchestra provide the soundtrack to this thoroughly depressing moment.
2207: IT’S OFFICIAL, Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio, is now handed the Paralympic flag as the Brazilian anthem fills the air. I’m not sure I can wait four years for the next Games. Rio 2013, anyone?
2210: We are now being transported across land and sea from east London to Rio de Janeiro, as the Brazilian presentation begins with a dance battle. When it comes to dancing, does any country do it quite like Brazil? The name of this section is “Joy”.
2215: It's dance battle, after dance battle, after dance battle, I thought the competition had finished? Typically vibrant, lively, stirring samba sounds. I'm looking forward to 2016 already!
2216: London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe and IPC president Philip Craven take to the stage as a wonderful Brazilian presentation ends. Let's hear what they have got to say...
2221: Coe hails the contribution of the thousands of volunteers, before concluding a rousing speech with:
“The Paralympic Games has set new records every day, sporting records, records for crowds for television audiences, for unbridled spirit.
“In this country we will never think of sport the same way and we will never think of disability the same way. The Paralympians have lifted the cloud of limitation.
“In the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games I said that we would ignite a flame that would ignite the world. I am proud tonight to say we have done this...”
2222: “There are some famous words you can find stamped on the bottom of a product.
“Words, that when you read them, you know mean high quality, mean skill, mean creativity. We have stamped those words on the Olympic and Paralympic Games of London 2012: ‘London 2012. Made in Britain’.”
2223: A truly jaw-dropping reception for Sebastian Coe’s speech, with an impromptu standing ovation interrupting proceedings. As a Brit, I am literally overflowing with pride. I will try to compose myself as Sir Philip Craven takes to the microphone…
2232: Sir Philip Craven, IPC President describes the London Paralympic Games as "the best ever" and declares the games closed.
He says: “These have been quite simply, amazing Paralympic Games. Four years ago, the Beijing Closing Ceremony’s theme was a letter to the future…
“By building a giant themepark for sport in East London… you have helped inspire a generation.
“These were not just London’s Games but buoyed by medal success of host nation, this country has enjoyed a real feel-good factor like never before.
“The biggest cheer of London 2012 for now as we say thank you again to the thousands of gamesmakers.
“And now let us also acknowledge a band of people who stepped into breach and went beyond far beyond call of duty -- British armed forces and emergency services.
“The compact and execellent Paralympic Games became a home-from-home and launched 4,200 athletes to orbit with no limits.”
2235: The moment has arrived, British Paralympic heroes Jonnie Peacock and Ellie Simmonds extinguish the magnificent Olympic cauldron, passing the flame on to a host of torch bearers.
Emotions are running high, the end is in sight.
2237: But there’s no let up, no time to feel down. Jay Z joins Coldplay and Rihanna on stage to perform “Run this Town.” In a slight change to the song’s original line-up, Coldplay replace Kanye West. A natural choice…
2244: There must be thousands of wobbly bottom lips inside that stadium as Coldplay move onto “The Scientist.” On the screens, a montage is shown of the unforgettable moments which have littered these Games.
As the tears stream down your face? You said it, Chris Martin. This is all getting a bit too much.
2248: This is it, the final song of Coldplay’s set. The Rio 2016 organizing committee must be shuffling uncomfortably in their seats, how will they top this?
2253: Cue fireworks after a sterling shift from Coldplay, surely everyone’s a fan after that performance? The London sky has exploded with light. Just like the Olympic Games before it, the Paralympics is going out with an almighty BANG!!!
2257: It is all over. An eerie silence falls on the stadium with thousands unable to comprehend that it really has all finished. Sport does not get any better than what London has played host to across the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2304: The Olympic Stadium was awash with vibrant colors and dynamic aerial acrobatics as the Paralympic Closing Ceremony signaled the end of London 2012. The Ceremony entitled, “Festival of the Flame” paid tribute to 11 days of spectacular sporting achievements and the host nation of Great Britain.
In a dramatic opening, a war erupted on the central playing field between the Wind Gremlins on fan-powered motorcycles and defenders of the Agitos – the symbol of the Paralympic Games. A motorcade of the weird and wonderful arrived in the venue next. Battered vehicles were repurposed and transformed into remarkable mechanicals floats like a Clamposaurus, Hellcopter, Beast from the East and a Time Machine.
Michael McKillop of Ireland and Kenya’s Mary Zakayo received the Dr Whang Youn Dai award for sporting excellence and six newly-elected members of the IPC Athletes’ Council were announced.
Then came the first musical portion of the evening when world-renowned British soft rock band Coldplay took to the main stage to perform some of their hits including “Yellow”, “Paradise”, “42”, “God Put A Smile On Your Face”, “Clocks” and “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall.” Pop princess Rihanna joined the band on stage for a rendition of their duet, “Princess of China.”
The Paralympic Flag was then handed from the Mayor of London Boris Johnson to the President of the International Paralympic Committee Sir Philip Craven who passed it on to Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes.
Speeches by Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, and Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee celebrated the London 2012 gamesmakers who were volunteers from across the UK and praised these Games as "the best ever."
Thomas Heatherwick’s iconic cauldron opened and GB gold medallists Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock transferred the final flame to a London Paralympic torch to be extinguished. Coldplay returned to the stage for a final hurrah along with American hip-hop megastar Jay-Z and Rihanna before an unforgettable fireworks display along the River Thames took over.
Lastly a projection on the Houses of Parliament said simply: “Thank you London, thank you UK.” It has been an emotional and world-record breaking Paralympics.
During these Games the world has watched 164 countries compete for the 1,522 medals on offer. These have been the most successful Games with 2.7 million tickets sold in comparison to Beijing’s 1.8 million in 2008.
We have cheered, we have cried and we have supported these outstanding Paralympians and now we look ahead to 2016 and the Rio Games.
2309: What seems like a lifetime ago, during the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games, Sebastian Coe said: “Our history has prepared us for today. This is our time.”
And what a time we had. The wave of euphoria which engulfed London during the Olympics swept through the Paralympics and spurred athletes on to unbelievable feats.
2319: I am in a post-Paralympic London and I already dislike it. We are sat here in a numb state watching montages of outstanding sporting feats performed by athletes from across the globe.
It has been my absolute pleasure to be part of this ride and I hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the Paralympics here in London. I guess there is little left to say but thank you to those who left comments and tweeted.
Now we look ahead to Rio where I can only hope that attitudes continue to change and the legacy of London 2012 becomes a reality, inspiring a new generation. I can not wait to see more spectacular Olympics and Paralympics in the future and the new wave of athletes that come into our lives.
Until then, it's "Bye" for now, over to Tom to do the final wrap up...
