Cheerio, London: 2012 Olympics Come To An End

Olympic Closing Ceremony Delivers Uneven, Dragged-Out Super Bowl Halftime Show

George Michael and Emeli Sande shine during the 'Olympic concert.' Eighties rockers, not so much.

NBC's Olympic Coverage, In A Tweet

Closing Ceremony Reactions: Everybody Mildly Entertained By Britpop

It was easy to get distracted and confused by all the shiny lights and music of Sunday's Closing Ceremony. If that's the case, here's a bunch of things people said about the ceremony, revealing that most people who watched it also found themselves distracted and confused by all of the stuff going on. All that said, everybody seemed to enjoy the random mixture of various British cultural references.

From the LA Times:

A musical mishmash of eras and styles closed the London Olympics in a long and raucous fashion on Sunday night to complete what its director called the "after-party" of this 17-day global event.

That article got first billing for coming through with the sentence of the day:

You don’t quite associate the International Olympic Committee or the British royal family with an enormous, fluorescent multi-colored octopus, but there was DJ Fatboy Slim coming into view from its head.

The New York Times:

It felt as if the Games had suddenly been programmed by England’s version of the Chamber of Commerce, which decided to take advantage of this final moment in the international spotlight to produce one long and kinetic ad for the country’s pop culture.

The Chicago Tribune:

London's closing ceremony was the raucous reception in which everyone was encouraged to cut loose and each generation got a chance to play DJ.

The AP:

I'm talking 'bout my generation," sang The Who, capping a raucous, rock 'n' roll Olympic closing ceremony But which generation? When the band members first sang "My Generation," they were in their 20s. Now they are pushing 70.

Woah! Where are they going with this one!

Like the Olympic torch passing from one runner to another, the London games' closing ceremony was an all-ages affair designed to show the flame of British creativity leaping from one age group to the next.

Nailed it!

More from the AP:

With a little British pomp and a lot of British pop, London brought the curtain down on a glorious Olympic Games on Sunday in a spectacular, technicolor pageant of landmarks, lightshows and lots of fun.

Our point is, everybody had more or less the same few things to say about the Closing Ceremony, finally proving once and for all that the best way to lull writers into a mildly entertained daze is to play them lots of Britpop.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Brian May Rocks Closing Ceremony, Resembles A Poodle

Queen is inarguably one of the most famous and most beloved rock bands of all time, especially within Great Britain. At Sunday's Closing Ceremony, following a call-and-response using footage of the late Freddie Mercury (sadly not Hologram Freddie Mercury, but we'll take what we can get), the crowd at Olympic Stadium was treated to a shredding guitar solo from Queen guitarist Brian May! Or possibly Harpo Marx. We're still not quite sure.

It takes a ton of talent to look that smug while playing a guitar solo. And also while looking like Billy Connolly dressed as your grandmother.

After this ripping solo, May was joined by Jessie J and her amazing yellowcolor longcoat to perform "We Will Rock You." The less said about that part, the better.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

McKayla Maroney Is Really Not Impressed With The Closing Ceremony

On Sunday, the 2012 Olympic Games in London were bookended by another over-the-top Closing Ceremony. It was quite the spectacle, with some of the greatest musical acts in the history of Great Britain taking the stage amid some breathtaking visuals. Why, the Olympic athletes even took the shape of the Union Jack! That's pretty impressive, right?

Oh. Uh, hey McKayla Maroney. Thought you'd be impressed by that. Well, uh ... they also made a giants John Lennon face out of a bunch of old couch cushions! That's pretty impressive, isn't it?

No? Nothing? How about some big-time pop stars?

Dang. W-what about a sentiment of universal emancipation? Would you be impressed by THAT?

Jeez, McKayla, it's almost like you're not impressed by anything. Well, how about Lolo Jones' awesome singing ability? Would you be impressed by that?

That's cold, McKayla. Ice cold.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: Olympic Flame Extinguished, London Games Come To An End

All good things must come to an end. Just as the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron marks the beginning of the Olympic Games, so too does the extinguishing of the flame signify the official close. And such was the case Sunday night in London at the Closing Ceremony, as the Games of the XXX Olympiad celebrated their conclusion.

The Cauldron in London was lit July 27 and burned brightly within Olympic Stadium until Sunday night, when the leaves -- one for each country represented in the Games -- came apart and the flame died out.

The giant bird you see, by the way, is a phoenix meant to represent "the Spirit of the Flame."

The flame of the Summer Olympics will be seen again in Rio for the 2016 Games.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Eric Idle Is Here To Make The Closing Ceremony Mildly Tolerable

About seven hours into the Closing Ceremony on Sunday (maybe it was 10, I sort of blacked out for a while there), a gentleman came out to a giant cannon and climbed inside, in preparation of being shot through the air. That didn't end up working out so well.

Turns out that it was all a sham, as that human cannonball was none other than beloved Monty Pythonist Eric Idle!

Eric took some time to lead the massive Olympic Stadium crowd in a singalong of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" before paying a visit to the Ministry of Silly Dances. You know what it's time for now: GIF PARTY!

It was a welcome surprise in an otherwise bizarre and unsettling Closing Ceremony. Certainly better than some sort of Spanish Inquisition.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Oh Lolo Jones, No

United States runner Lolo Jones -- unfairly or not -- has been picked on by the media pretty much nonstop for month leading up to the Olympic Games. She caught flack from all sides based on what supposed ideals for an Olympic athlete (and a woman) are and are not supposed to be. She clashed with teammates. And she failed to medal. In other words, Lolo Jones has had a rough few weeks in London. The word on the street is, the fire in her heart is out.

We feel for you, Lolo. We really do.

But there's no excuse for singing this earnestly to "Wonderwall" by Oasis if you're not alone in your car, driving around in the rain:

Oh, Lolo. I'm all for heartfelt belting but come on, pal. Rein it in just a bit. No?

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

You Will Believe A Man Can ... Well, Whatever This Is

The best way to describe the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London is to say "a cough-syrup induced fever dream."

Wait, no. That's not quite right. It's like ... it's like if you had pneumonia and fell asleep while watching a Paddington Bear marathon.

No. No, that's not it, either. I guess it's sort of like if you dropped acid while watching Pink Floyd's The Wall, but where the visuals were synched up to the audio from Mary Poppins.

Actually, it's just kind of like this:

Yep, perfect.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony Schedule: Still To Come, Speeches!

By all accounts, the Closing Ceremony just hit its high note with Monty Python's Eric Idle leading the Olympic Stadium in a sing-along (whistle-along?) of "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life." That's the good news. Bad news is, there's still plenty more.

Up next we'll have the official handover of the Olympic Games to Rio, the hosts in 2016, and the official Closing of the Games -- that means SPEECHES!

Here's the official program via @rosabelieve.

The night ends with The Who, which might be neat?

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Fatboy Slim Says What We're All Thinking

Hey, how is this Closing Ceremony going so far? We having a good time?

You said it, Fatboy Slim. You said it.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Fatboy Slim DJs On An Octopus Stage Because Olympics

DAAAAAAANCE PARTY!!!

Is that Fatboy Slim? Yep! PARTY TIME PEOPLE!

Wait, is he DJ-ing on an octopus set? Sure is!

Recession hits everyone, y'all.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: Honestly, We Don't 'Wish You Were Here'

At Sunday's Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, the organizers really wanted to do an homage to Pink Floyd. Makes sense, right? One of the most popular and iconic British bands ever. Totally understandable they'd want to give them a shout-out. Of course, since this is the frigging Olympics, it needed to involve a man on a tightrope.

Yes, while a horrifying goblin sang a cover of "Wish You Were Here," the iconic Pink Floyd album cover was recreated. On a tightrope.

Well, if they're going to set something on fire next to someone else, make sure it's as reckless as humanly possible, I guess!

And then Russell Brand rode out on a bus dressed like Dr. Teeth and started performing Beatles songs. Thanks, England!

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: George Michael Is In The Building

George Michael took some time off from hosting his late-night weekly syndicated show Sports Machine to stop by the London Closing Ceremony and treat the crowd to one big hit and one ... not such a big hit. But the Olympic Stadium kicked into full swag mode for him, which was pretty awesome.

SWAG SWAG SWAG SWAG WE ON THAT FREEDOM SWAG Y'ALL

George Michael looks pretty good for 49, all things considered.

Only like 30 more years and that mustache will be all the way grown in! Almost there, buddy!

But man alive, can George Michael dance. Take it away, Georgie!

Such moves! He can also freestyle!

THANK YOU BASED WHAM

But can he throw his hands in the air? Can he wave them as though he has no regard for the consequences. Yes. Yes he most assuredly can.

Bring it home, George!

That'll do, George. That'll do.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich Gets His Marathon Gold

What does it look like to win your country's only medal at the Olympics? And not only that, but your country's first gold medal since 1972?

Well, like this.

That's Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich, receiving his gold medal for winning the men's marathon, an award ceremony specially reserved for the Closing Ceremony.

Awesome.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Cermony: Great Britain Thinks Pretty Highly Of Itself

The Closing Ceremony featured another Parade of Nations, of sorts. It turned out to be a parade of one nation in particular. Ahem. Wink.

All of the athletes (that were still in town) very sloooowwwwwwlllly came out to wave to the crowd and take their place on the floor of Olympic Stadium. It shortly became apparent that their places on the floor were VERY specific, because, well, this is what was happening with all of this.

Yep, everyone got to form the Union Jack of the British flag! You know, that empire that used to own like half the world?

I'm not saying; I'm just saying. Can you imagine the United States hosting the Olympics and making everyone form the stars and stripes? "Hey, Iran, stop horsing around and get back to being one of our stars!"

Yyyyyyyep.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: What Am I Even Looking About

The Closing Ceremony has really hit a lull here. And I'm not talking about the guy from the Spanish basketball team, either. There's just athletes walking around slowly and hugging while a 10-minute-long ballad is being played and confetti is fluttering.

So, since that's super boring and not at all funny, please enjoy this instead:

what

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

One Direction At The Closing Ceremony: An Adventure In Hair

The inexplicable boy band One Direction stopped by the 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony on Sunday to "delight" the crowd with a "song" and also to make everyone marvel because WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THEIR HAIR?

Seriously, like ... what is that? It's like a Vanilla Ice with a bowler stuck on top of it. And don't get me started on a bespoke tailored suit with the dress shirt buttoned all the way up and no tie. Come on, One Direction. What are you even

Oh come on, Chad Direction, have some frigging self respect. Stop that. Knock that off.

Oh CRIPES. Come on, Jedward Direction. That's. Ugh. How does this even happen? Did you go to SuperCuts and ask for "the upside-down Dorothy Hamill"?

NOOOOOOOO STOP IT HAIRBAND

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: 'Stomp' Still Stomping On Trash Cans, 21 Years Later

The British dance troupe Stomp has been around since 1991. You'd think by now they'd be able to afford actual musical instruments. But there they were Sunday night in the Closing Ceremony, still just banging away on their trash cans.

Recession hits everyone, y'all.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: Pet Shop Boys Make An Appearance From Deep Within Your Nightmares

The Pet Shop Boys stopped by the Closing Ceremony in London, looking pretty good and not at all like absolute terror fuel.

Yes, I always like to be pedaled into places by rickshaw-bicycle drivers dressed like concept art for Silent Hill while I'm late for a Cremaster Cycle costume party. The Pet Shop Boys are just like us!

Also, please enjoy this special parade! Hope you can eventually stop screaming.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: Well-Known British Heroes Batman & Robin Make An Appearance

The Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympics is already off to a pretty weird start, obviously. Famous British heroes Batman and Robin have made an appearance, looking a bit ... uh ... you know. They've had better days.

Who could ever forget iconic UK superheroes Batman and Robin? Particularly British Batman's catch-phrase, "Gor! Blimey, matey! Fish 'n' chips!"

Maybe it was just the corpse of Benny Hill dressed as Batman. That would actually make sense.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: London, Where Everyone Is Made Out Of Newspaper

The Closing Ceremony is meant to evoke "a day in the life of London," from "morning rush hour" to ... uh ... I guess, feeding the birds? Tuppence a bag?

Part of daily life in London apparently involves everything being made out of newspaper.

I mean, like, EVERYTHING.

Bloody hell, don't people in London know how to use clothes or cars made out of metal, rather than out of newspaper?

No. No, I guess they don't, apparently. How sad that Great Britain is still in the Paper Age. Guess they used up all their bronze with those dumb medals.

For ongoing coverage of the Closing Ceremony, stick with our Closing Ceremony StoryStream. For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: Fake Winston Churchill Is A Big Hit

I guess we shouldn't have been worried that the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games wouldn't be weird. After some gorgeous aerial shots of the London nighttime skyline, there was some mass-crowd failure at counting along to the chimes of a replica Big Ben.

Then, there was a piano made to look like it was made out of newspaper while someone named Emeli Sande sang. Then there was some percussion and singing from the cast of Stomp, after which Peter Pettigrew addressed the crowd dressed like Winston Churchill and quoting the same line from "The Tempest" that Kenneth Branagh recited to open the Games. Heh, derivative much?

No word on whether Pettigrew was captured and made to stand trial for his crimes committed as a Death Eater.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

Closing Ceremony: Beautiful Olympic Stadium Images Are Beautiful

The Closing Ceremony is just MINUTES away, which explains that excited tingling feeling you are no doubt experiencing. The live broadcast online began with a five-minute continuous shot of a camera slowly approaching the Olympic Stadium lit up at night. And quite simply, it was awesome:

Getting closer ...

Even closer!

This is, without a doubt, going to be the best part of the Closing Ceremony.

What To Expect From The 2012 Olympics Closing Cermony

The Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London was weird. Really weird. Like, "Mary Poppins-fighting-Voldemort" and "breakdancing hospital patients" weird. The Closing Ceremony on Sunday is going to be basically an extended concert, but rest assured that it will also be super weird in its own way.

Want a soupcon of the assorted British musical acts that will be performing? OK, here's a short list: The Who, the Spice Girls, One Direction, Annie Lennox and Fatboy Slim.

Also, this is apparently what Olympic Stadium is going to look like while all that caterwauling is going on:

(via the Olympics Facebook feed)

So yeah. Get ready for this one.

If you want to watch the Closing Ceremony live, it will be streaming online at the official NBC Olympics website at this link. It will begin at 4 p.m. ET and run until question marks.

Please stick with us here at SB Nation in our Closing Ceremony StoryStream, as we run down the highlights, lowlights and other assorted train wrecks during the however-many-hours this thing runs.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

How To Watch The 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony Live

NBC will be providing a live stream of the Closing Ceremony from London. Find out when and where you can watch the after-party to the 2012 Olympics.

2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony: Time, TV Coverage And More

The 2012 London Olympics will conclude Sunday with the Closing Ceremony officially marking the end of the games.

NBC Will Stream Olympic Closing Ceremony Live Online

NBC received heavy criticism for its decision to tape-delay the 2012 Olympics' Opening Ceremony two weeks ago and not provide a live online stream to viewers. The network is doing an about-face on the Closing Ceremony, which it announced Saturday that it would stream online.

Sports Business Journal's John Ourand has the full statement from NBC:

"It’s part of our continuing effort to innovate, experiment and learn. This is not precedent setting, but rather another chance for us to gather data about how live streaming and television complement each other."

NBC's live streaming effort, which has been provided for every event in every sport, has not been without its critics. And whether NBC has the bandwidth necessary to accomodate millions tuning in to see the finale of the 2012 Olympics (and the Spice Girls!) remains to be seen.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

London Closing Ceremony To Feature The Who, Spice Girls, People Wincing

Bryshon Nellum Will Carry U.S. Flag In Closing Ceremony

Bryshon Nellum will be the flag bearer for Team USA at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.