Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong and his London counterpart Boris Johnson ascended the podium in the National Stadium in north Beijing on Sunday night, for a brief ceremony marking the handover of the Olympic Games' host baton.

London Mayor Boris Johnson waves the Olympic flag at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony held in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong (R) waves the Olympic flag before handing over it to International Olympic Committee(IOC) President Jacques Rogge at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony held in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)