Rain Performs in Closing Ceremony of Beijing Olympics

South Korean pop star Rain, called "Bi" here, performed in the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the National Stadium, along with other Asian and international celebrities.

Rain performed in front of approximately 91,000 spectators and Chinese President Hu Jintao as a representative of South Korea. He sang "Beijing Beijing I Love Beijing" with five other Asian stars.

Global celebrities performing in the finale included operatic tenor Placido Domingo, soccer star David Bekham and actor Jackie Chan. Beckham kicked a soccer ball during the closing ceremony.

Many Asian stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan were also featured.

The closing ceremony started with fireworks and grandiose and dynamic performances by hundreds of Chinese performers.

The highlight of the finale was a duet performed by Domingo and soprano Song Zuying.

Filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the architect of the opening ceremony, also directed the closing piece.

Rain, a singer and film star, was the first South Korean artist to perform in the Tokyo Dome and New York's Madison Square Garden Theater in 2006.

His third album "It's Raining" sold over 1 million copies in Asia.

Source: Korea Times
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter