Today

Scheduled event

Finals

Men’s Marathon, Basketball, Boxing, Water polo, handball, volleyball and Gymnastics Rhythmic.

BEIJING - The 29th Beijing Olympic Games come to a climax today when the Olympic flag is passed to the organisers of the 2012 Games (London) at the 100,000-seater Bird’s Nest Stadium, China.

The two-week long Games wind up with finals of seven disciplines with main closing ceremony expected to start at 8.45pm (3.45pm Rwandan time).

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is among world leaders who arrived in Beijing mid this week to attend the closing ceremony which will see a customary handover of the Olympic mantle to his country.

Other high profile officials and heads of states confirmed for today’s closing ceremony include US President George W. Bush, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda among others dignitaries.

Footballer David Beckham, singer Leona Lewis and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page will be among the celebrities representing London at the ceremony.

With the 2008 Olympic Games coming to an end, hosts China will be celebrating for having topped the medal’s table as the Jamaicans will live to enjoy the record-breaking performances of sprinter Usain Bolt while the Americans return home to question themselves what transpired for them in Beijing.

Kenya and Ethiopia maintained their dominance in the distance running despite the continent’s failure in sprints and boxing.

Rwanda, the Olympics medal drought that has spanned since they became IOC members in 1982 will continue until something ‘special’ is done to avert it.

The 10000m runner Dieudonne Disi finished 19th and women marathon finished 66th and there is every reason to worry if the country is to ever win a medal in any future Games.

Swimmers Jackson Niyomugabo and Pamela Girimbabazi failed to go past the heat stages with no hope of much improvement until their federation wakes from the deep slumber.

Ends