The REAL stars of the greatest show on Earth: Athletes parade into the Olympic stadium carrying flags of every nation

They may have just finished days of grueling competition, but the Olympic athletes showed no signs of running out of steam as they took centre stage in the closing ceremony.
Thousands of the stars of London 2012 from all the nations poured into the Olympic stadium as the Games reached a dramatic climax.
And after all the pressures of vying for gold, they could at last let their hair down and have some fun.

Celebration: A British athlete waves a Union Jack flag as athletes from all over the world parade during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in London

Going for a spin: British gymnast Louis Smith rides a scooter as the athletes march in during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

Flying the flag: As the athletes flooded into the Olympic stadium for the finale they formed the Union Flag

Glory: The home competitors ¿ dressed in their patriotic blue blazers, red trousers, and Union Flag motive T-Shirts finished the 16 days of competition with a total of 65 medals, including 29 golds

Coming together: Flagbearers take part in the athletes' march during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium

Stunning send off: Athletes enter the stadium, passing by the Olympic cauldron, during the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Games

Some of the competitors performed backflips, while others showed off their medals as they paraded in front of a world-wide audience estimated to be more than one billion people.
But the Closing Ceremony paused for several minutes while the three athletes yet to receive their medals were awarded their gold, silver and bronze.

 

Marathon winner Stephen Kiprotich took to the top step of the podium after becoming Uganda's second ever Olympic winner following his thrilling victory on the Mall today at the end of the men's marathon.
Kenyan duo Abel Kirui was awarded silver and Wilson Kipsang his bronze.

Triumph: Men's marathon gold medalist Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich, center, is flanked by silver medalist Abel Kirui, of Kenya, left, and bronze medalist Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich

Jubilant: Jessica Ennis is shown on the giant screen with her gold medal as part of the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympic games

Festival time: Spanish athletes parade during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Entente cordiale: British and French athletes put competition to the back of their mind as they mingle during the Closing Cermony

Going out with a bang: Thousands of athletes took centre stage during the spectacular Closing Ceremony

National flags are carried by flagbearers taking part in the athletes' march during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

Britain's athletes took a staring role during the ceremony, having exceeded all expectations with a stunning haul of medals.
The home competitors – dressed in their patriotic blue blazers, red trousers, and Union Flag motive T-Shirts finished the 16 days of competition with a total of 65 medals, including 29 golds.
It marked the best tally recorded by Britain at any Olympics since 1908 - and 18 more than won in Beijing four years ago.
And the athletes paid special thanks to the 70,000 volunteers who made it possible to stage the world's largest sport event to be staged, in which more than 10,000 athletes competed for 302 gold medals in 26 sports, across 16 days.
Olympic gold medal rower Kath Grainger – who had been three times a silver medalist before finally achieving her dream of winning on home soil – headed representatives from the athletes association giving flowers to a group of so-called games makers for their ‘unique contribution to the Games’.

Pressure's off: Members of Japan's Olympic team wave British and Japanese flags as they join a parade in front of thousands of spectators in the Olympic stadium

Paying tribute: A Greek competitor carries a sign thanking her coach as athletes flood into the centre of the Olympic stadium for the Closing Ceremony

Golden girl: Marina Alabau Neira of Spain, gold medalist in the women's RS:X Sailing, holds up her medal during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Joyous: Ecstatic Ethiopia celebrate the end of their Olympics games with dancing as they come into the stadium during the Closing Ceremony

Jumping for joy: A French gymnast shows off his skills with a perfectly performed back flip in front of his teammates