Fireworks and an appearance by international soccer star David Beckham highlighted the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

The eight-minute Olympic hand-over to 2012 Summer Games host London focused on an iconic red, double-decker bus. Modern dancers moved in and around the bus until the moment that the vehicle’s roof opened and out of it emerged a smiling Beckham.

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Beckham's countenance had already filled the scoreboard video screen at the U.S.-Spain men’s basketball game earlier in the day. He sat behind one of the baskets with AEG CEO Tim Leiweke. Every time his face was shown, the crowd erupted at the basketball game and at the Closing Ceremony.

Among the musical performers was Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, looking very much his age at 64. Page is just two years younger than IOC President Jacques Rogge.

The Closing Ceremony was far less extensive and creative than the spectacular opening. It was, by design, more relaxed as athletes arrived en masse; no marching, no national recognition. The stadium floor was, essentially, turned into a dance floor.

Rogge labeled them as “truly exceptional Games,” adding somewhat obtusely, “Through these Games, the world learned more about China and China learned more about the world.”

But BOCOG President Liu Qi said: “The Beijing Olympic Games is a testimony of the fact that the world has its trust rested upon China.”

When the Olympic flame was extinguished, a massive fireworks display started at the Bird’s Nest stadium and expanded throughout Beijing. Many of the Games’ young volunteers, who were a key element to the Games’ friendly mood, left their posts to watch the fireworks light up the city.

Meanwhile, on CCTV, a number of the channels replayed Olympics highlights and one replayed the Games’ Opening Ceremony into the night, reliving that spectacle.

The Vancouver Winter Games open on Feb. 12, 2010.