Athens Paralympics Close

(ATR) One last time, the caldron in the Athens Olympic Stadium has been doused with the ending of the 12th Paralympic Games. The end of the Parlympics comes nearly one month to the day from the close of the Olympic Games in the same stadium.

An abbreviated closing ceremony brought a muted end to what were considered be a nearly flawless Paralympics.

A brighter finish was set aside Monday when organizers cancelled the entertainment portion of the closing ceremony out of respect for the victims of a bus crash that killed seven teenagers traveling to Athens for the games.

While there was some music in between elements of the ceremonies that were held, International Paralympic Committee spokeswoman Miriam Wilkens tells Around the Rings.com that there was ?no party?.

Athens 2004 President Gianna Angelopoulos chose not speak, instead thanking the Paralympians in a letter.

IPC President Phil Craven congratulated Athens for its achievement hosting successful Paralympics.

?To all Athenians and people of Greece, your passion, your friendliness and hospitality, will travel on, way beyond tonight. Continue to carry that sparkle in your eyes and keep the flame burning in your hearts," he told the stadium crowd.

Liu Jingmin, Beijing vice mayor and vice president of the organizing committee for the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, received the Paralympics flag from the Mayor of Athens as the flame in the stadium caldron was extinguished.

China was the dominant team at the Paralympics, placing first with 141 medals, 63 of them gold. Australia at 100 total medals was next, followed by Great Britain with 94, the U.S. with 88 and Germany at 79.

A record 136 countries sent more than 3,600 athletes to the Athens Paralympics.

Wilkens says ticket sales exceeded expectations with 850,000 sold. Also above estimates were media accreditations which she says topped 3,200.

By the time of closing ceremony, positive drug tests numbered just seven out of more than 600 conducted during

the games and there were few hassles with the thorny issue of proper classification for Paralympic athletes.

More Olympic news of the week in the October 1 issue of Around the Rings.com, for subscribers only.

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