Under a slowly rusting Parisian sky, an Olympic Games that saw breakdancers light up La Concorde, beach volleyball players cavort beneath the Eiffel Tower and Snoop Dogg trot into the gardens of Versailles clad in full equestrian garb was brought to a glittering close at the Stade de France on Sunday night.
It seemed fitting that the last word should go to the ubiquitous Californian rapper, albeit by video link, to fan the final embers of a heatwave Games that started down the course of a rain-lashed River Seine, but ultimately succeeded in bringing the Olympic spirit back to the streets.
