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Caribbean leaves unique mark at 2012 Olympic Games.
« on: August 14, 2012, 04:49:53 AM »
Caribbean leaves unique mark
...as 30th Olympiad makes glamorous end
l LONDON (CMC).


London said an emphatic farewell to the 30th Olympiad with a spectacular farewell ceremony here Sunday, capping two weeks of intense competition across the historic city with the Caribbean yet again scaling new heights and leaving an indelible mark on the showpiece.

The Olympic Stadium, constructed at a cost of 500 million pounds sterling, was transformed into a sea of British culture highlighted largely by pop acts such as George Michael, Spice Girls and Take That, in a glitzy three-hour gala.

New generation group One Direction and the enduring Pet Shop Boys added to the star-studded cast as Britain put its vast musical treasure trove on show for a global viewership estimated to be more than 300 million.

British super model Naomi Campbell made an appearance along with another model, Kate Moss, as the country's extravagant fashion was also given centre stage.

"Today sees the closing of a wonderful Games in a wonderful city. We lit the flame and lit up the world," said Lord Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee. "When our time came, Britain, we did it right."

International Olympic Committee chief, Jacques Rogge labelled the London Olympics as "happy and glorious".

"The legacy of the Games of the 30th Olympiad will become clear in many ways," he said.

"Concrete improvements in infrastructure will benefit the host nation for years to come. The human legacy will reach every region of the world.

"Many young people will be inspired to take up a sport or to pursue their dreams."

In a formal procedure marking the end of the Games, the Olympic flag was passed on to Eduardo Paes, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, the magical Brazilian city which will host the Olympics in four years time.

Rogge declared the Games closed, the Olympic flame was extinguished and a stunning fireworks display began over the east London venue.

The stadium in recent days was the scene of several magical moments as the Caribbean ignited fireworks of its own. Led by sprint powerhouses Jamaica, CARICOM nations broke several barriers and recorded their highest-ever medal haul.

In the end, the region won seven gold, four silver and seven bronze medals with Jamaica leading the way with four gold, four silver and four bronze.

Trinidad and Tobago, through teenager Keshorn Walcott, picked up one gold and added three bronze while Grenada and the Bahamas each won a gold medal.

The Games were again headlined by the peerless Usain Bolt who became the first man to win back-to-back 200 metres titles and also defend a sprint double title.

He also created another first by anchoring Jamaica to a world record 36.84 seconds, as they became the first sprint relay team in history to run under 37 seconds.

Countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also defended her 100m title, winning in 10.75 seconds, while Veronica Campbell-Brown finished third in 10.81.

The women's 4x100m team, Fraser-Pryce in the 200m and Yohan Blake, who was second in both sprints, accounted for Jamaica's silver medals.

Warren Weir, the little known Jamaican, ensured an historic clean sweep in the men's 200m for Jamaica while Hansle Parchment landed bronze in the 110m hurdles.

Jamaica's women's 4x400m relay team won the other bronze medal.

Grenada, thanks to world champion Kirani James, won their first-ever Olympic medal when he raced to gold in the men's 400m, becoming the first ever non-American to run beneath 44 seconds with a clocking of 43.94.

Grenada, who made their debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, sent a record ten athletes to London 2012.

Trinidad and Tobago were also part of history with a record four medals, beating the previous best of three, achieved in Tokyo 1964.

Walcott became the first athlete from the English-speaking Caribbean to win gold in a javelin event and the first in 60 years from the Western Hemisphere.

The medal was T&T's second-ever Olympic gold medal behind the legendary Hasely Crawford, who won the 100m at the 1976 Montreal Games.

Walcott, at age 19, took with him his own national record with his winning throw of 84.58m.

Lalonde Gordon was another unlikely hero, adding to Trinidad and Tobago's historic moment when he became the first to win a medal, bronze, in 44.52 behind James in the 400 metres.

He later helped the 4x400m team to another bronze medal, with the other bronze coming in the men's sprint relay.

In the 4x400m relay, the Bahamas upset the United States to claim the country's first-ever men's gold medal as the quartet of Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller ran a national record two minutes, 56.72 seconds for gold.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

 

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