And Coldplay take to the stage. They open their set with Us Against the World. Bit of a dirge isn't it. Where's Gwyneth with her cringeworthy rendition of Straight Outta Compton when you need it? Mackenzie invokes the spirits of the the seasons: the cleaning rain and twilight of autumn; the earth and ancient stones of winter; the new life of spring; and the fire and passion of summer.
The spirit of fire continues as a sinister army turn their flamethrowers on the stadium floor. They're followed by the weird and wonderful convoy of steampunk vehicles, which include clampasaurus, a mechanical dinosaur made of 25 BMW frames and agricultural machinery. Another truck looks like a shiny blue beetle, with its wing case rising up.
Not sure if the latest vehicle to enter the stadium is a dinosaur or a fish — but none of it matters. By now London ceremonies have their own grammar: weird, wild and wonderful. I wonder if Rio will try to follow London surreality over Beijing regimentation and spectacle. Kenya's Mary Zakayo and Michael McKillop of Ireland receive the Whang Youn Dai Acheivement award — presented to one male and one female athlete who each "best exemplify the spirit of the Games and inspire and excite the world.
Tonight we bring you the Festival of the Flame, the symbol of the spirit of the Games, which has burned bright here at London Tonight we celebrate that spirit and although we have many differences, there is one quality we all share, one thing we have in common: human spirit. We have come together in peace for the Games and through that respect for each other we have found hope for the future.
Let the love that the Paralympics has kindled in our hearts burn brightly as we come together as one, for the Festival of the Flame. Lexy reckons the Paralympics closing ceremony is surely the only place you could get away with this type of thing, but adds "it kind of works.
It is cannibalised from a s gangster car and the body of a military vehicle used in Afghanistan. Captain Luke Sinnot, who lost his legs in Afghanistan, is climbing the flagpole of human endeavour, as dozens more performers march into the stadium. A war hero who lost both legs in a blast on the battlefields of Helmand tonight helped close the Paralympic Games - by climbing a flagpole and proudly flying the Union Flag.
Captain Luke Sinnott provided an emotional and fitting end to the London games - hailed the best in history. The courageous year-old lost his limbs in after volunteering to search an area "saturated" with improvised explosive devices to protect his comrades. Stephen Daldry, London 's executive producer for the opening and closing ceremonies described the flag unveiling as "devastatingly emotional". Sinnott, a keen sailor, is working towards his dream of competing at the Rio Paralympics in a boat funded by Help for Heroes.
Comrades from the charity played a key role in the opening minutes of the ceremony to support Sinnott. Updated at 8. And we're off. The Festival of the Flame begins with performers from the Mutoid Waste Company entering the stadium in a convoy of steampunk style vehicles. A horde of "wind gremlins" turn their wind machines on silver-clad dreamers, the guardians of the Agitos, the symbol of the Paralympics, accompanied by a dramatic soundtrack composed by David Arnold.
I did manage to have a lovely chat with two field officials who are excited about the show ahead. Joy Hoare, the only official in a wheelchair, said it felt a bit odd for her to be in the stands rather than on the pitch. She urged all young girls and boys who might — like her — be in a wheelchair, to get involved in sport. The London mayor reckons the endorphin rush of the past six weeks won't suddenly dissipate: "I think actually it won't happen.
He cites the unprecedented number of volunteers who've taken part in the Games as something that could be continued, although his comments seem a bit too reminiscent of Cameron's big society.
My colleague Jonathan Freedland, who is also at the stadium, has a taste of Sebastian Coe's speech later tonight:. Just had a sneak peek at Seb Coe's embargoed speech: short and to the point, it's exemplary. His reputation after these Games is sky high. The stadium is full now, the seats at the centre of the track now filled with athletes - seated as if it a particularly big and noisy wedding.
The Brazilian team, in their yellow tracksuit tops, have just done a Mexican wave. And that's it, the lights are down. We're off …. It's been an absolutely golden summer of British sport. It's given the country a great lift, it's brought people together, it's given the public a great lift. There's so much that's brilliant in Britain and I think that spirit will stay alive even when the events have finished. No mention by the prime minister of the boos that greeted chancellor George Osborne when he visited the Games.
Funny that. Channel 4 is now broadcasting the preamble to the closing ceremony. Comedian Jimmy Carr, criticised for his gag about injured British soldiers boosting the Paralympic team, tells Jon Snow how's he's been caught up in the feel good factor of the past six weeks, saying: "I feel like I've had a summer off from cynicism.
Can't say I'm convinced. But it does seem that the Games could mark a more positive shift in public attitudes towards disability. Already an incredible atmosphere here in the stadium with a good hour to go until kick off. The athletes are filing in in their team track suits, cheered and waved by the Gamesmakers that have done so much to make London unique.
On the walk to the stadium the main drag was full of Paralympians on their way to the stadium. They posed for photographs and were cheered and encouraged by the Gamesmakers. My colleague Richard Williams has just been telling me how different that easy informality is to Beijing. Seeing the victorious Chinese team cheered on by a bunch of rambunctious volunteers, he wondered what they made of it all. Rather dramatic classical music is blaring out of the speakers at the moment, adding a sense of occasion and drama to the evening.
It's rammed outside, as people fill up on fish and chips and get a few - eye-wateringly priced - beers on the go. The cauldron has been moved into the main arena and is burning bright against the clear evening sky. In front of us, in the middle of the arena, is a large circular stage, presently to be occupied by Coldplay - who, by all accounts, are going to do a good 15 or so songs. Still - the mood is electric and people are clearly determined to have a good time. This is the very last party of what has been an amazing six weeks, and people are going to enjoy every second of it.
Updated at 7. Britain's Paralympians will also feature prominently in show, with Quadruple gold medal winners David Weir and Sarah Storey sharing the honour of flag-bearers. Weir stormed to his fourth gold of the Games in the wheelchair marathon earlier today. While Storey made it a four gold haul at Brands Hatch by claiming victory in the time trial and road race. This year has been a huge success for ParalympicsGB.
ParalympicsGB's chief Penny Briscoe said this year's team had "rewritten the history books". The team won medals across 18 of the 19 sports they entered, including 41 golds.
This is one of the highest final tallies in ParalympicsGB's history. Dame Sarah Storey solidified her status by winning her 17th gold medal at this year's games, making her the most decorated British Paralympian in history.
Cyclist Kadeena Cox secured two gold medals, and even more incredibly, two world records in the Para-cycling mixed C m team sprint and the women's C m time trial.
Flagbearer David Smith secured his third gold medal, making him Britain's most successful boccia athlete ever. Thomas Young , who calls sprinter Usain Bolt his idol, certainly delivered in this year's Games.
The year-old brought home gold in the men's T38 metre sprint final in a personal best of Wishing for more Paralympics? Well in just six months time, the Winter Paralympics begin in Beijing, the capital city of China!
And the next summer Paralympic Games will take in Paris in just three years. Will you be watching the next games? Has this summer inspired you to take up any sport? Let us know in the comments. Should MPs be allowed to do another job? How Christmas can still sparkle with plastic-free glitter.
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