ATHENS -- Efharisto Greece! Not just for these remarkable and memorable 17 days.

Rather, thank you for all of this -- the greatest celebration of humanity -- that was born here in ancient times, abandoned and then reborn here in 1896.

The world doubted you, said you couldn't do it, that Greece would not be ready, but this tiny country of 10-million people pulled off a "flawless" games.

For the duration of this XXVIII Olympiad, the people of Greece, it seemed, held their collective breath.

From gruff cab drivers to enthusiastic, fresh-faced volunteers, everyone, it seemed, was nervous of what the visiting world would think and say.

Yesterday, and throughout the games, the world -- from visitors to locals, media types to International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge -- everyone said "Wow!"

Last night, in an exuberant closing ceremony, this country finally exhaled and let loose.

Anyone who has ever been to a Greek wedding knows that while Greeks may not be able to claim to have invented partying, they certainly have come close to perfecting it.

After all, how many cultures have a god of wine? And last night, Dionysus was celebrated in a ceremony that mixed the old with the new -- mythological creatures and gods with modern-day lovers and pretend wedding guests, in the biggest, fattest Greek wedding, seen anywhere.

The ceremony began with a pounding drum that shook this open-air stadium packed with 72,000 spectators and almost 10,000 athletes and when the countdown reached zero, fireworks started things off with a bang.

"When the world saw our spectacular sport venues, our excellent and flawless operations, all these modern accomplishments on this most historic stage, the world discovered a new Greece," said Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, president of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee and currently one of the most-loved citizens in this proud country.

She thanked, of course, the athletes. "Because of you, the Olympic Games are the most powerful source of inspiration and hope to humanity."

She also pointed out this games was historic, not just because of the past, but for the present.

This games hosted the most athletes ever -- 10,500. It had the most women athletes in history. The most national teams -- 201-- in history.

But it was to all of the people of Greece that Angelopoulos-Daskalaki heaped the greatest praise.

The last and biggest gold medal belonged to all Greeks.

"Because, for 17 days, we all represented Greece.

"Together," she told her countrymen, "we told a beautiful story that reconnected the Olympic Movement with its history and introduced a new Greece to the world.

"Athens," she added, "was great for the athletes; Greece was great for the Games."

Rogge agreed. "Dear Greek friends," he said. "You have won."

One of the more moving moments of the evening came when the three medallists in the men's marathon -- Stefano Baldini of Italy, Mebrahtom Keflezighi of the U.S. and Vanderlei de Lima of Brazil, were presented with their medals in the signature event of the games.

An event inspired by the story of the Athenian soldier who had run the 42 km from the site of the battle at Marathon to Athens and then promptly died after announcing "nenikkamen," "we did defeat."

The marathon became an Olympic sport at the 1896 Athens games -- where the modern Olympics began.

At the start of the games, many Greeks worried that doping scandals -- in which some Greek athletes were involved -- would mar the games.

But despite catching 22 cheats as of yesterday morning --unlike the Ben Johnson era -- there is no longer despair by the IOC when an athlete is caught. Instead, now, it is practically bragged about.

Unlike the formal parade in the spectacular and relevant opening ceremony, last night the athletes entered the Olympic stadium randomly, flowing into the stadium as one, united in the spirit of the Olympics.

Eventually, the Mayor of Athens, Dora Bakoyannis, turned over the Olympic flag to Rogge, who then turned it over to the Mayor of Beijing, where the next summer Olympics will take place in 2008.

Shortly thereafter, the games were declared officially closed and the flame was extinguished.

When 10,000 balloons were released, fireworks let off and confetti dropped, the real partying began and the entire stadium danced to modern pop music.

Last night, this Olympic games closed where it all began millennia ago, but it did not end.

Thanks to this magical country filled with warm people who celebrate love and wine and friendship, the Olympic spirit continues to burn higher and stronger.

May it ever be so.