'Best Olympic Games ever' come to a close in Sydney

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - The Sydney Games bid farewell to the world yesterday in an Aussie-sized extravaganza of exuberance, sparkling the skies and rocking Olympic Stadium in a closing ceremony bursting with the exhilaration of the land they call Oz.

But before the party, there were a few final stars.

Gezahgne Abera of Ethiopia won the Sydney Olympics' final event - the 26.2-mile marathon - striding into the stadium just a few hours before it was taken over by the robots on stilts, the Frankenstein kangaroo and the giant shrimp on bicycles that helped Sydney cap its games.

The U.S. "Dream Team" survived another bad dream to capture the gold in an 85-75 victory over France - two days after beating Lithuania by just two points. On Sunday, France cut a 12-point deficit to four with four minutes left. But Vince Carter double-pumped before dunking with 1:40 left and the Americans scored nine of the game's final 12 points.

Emily deRiel of Haverford, Pa., stunned even herself by winning the silver medal in the first Olympic women's modern pentathlon. "I don't know how it happened. I really don't," said deRiel, who started competing at the international level only this year.

There were a few down notes: The U.S. boxers and freestyles wrestlers found themselves shut out of Olympic gold for the first time in decades, and the struggling U.S. men's water polo team lost to Italy to finish sixth in the tournament.

But by the day's end, there was only celebration as Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, gave the tens of thousands packed into Olympic Stadium the words they wanted to hear:

"I am proud and happy to proclaim that you have presented to the world the best Olympic Games ever."

And what Down Under Olympic closing ceremony could be complete without one last rendition of the cheer now known around the world (though not usually in Samaranch's Spanish accent):

"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" chanted the 80-year-old IOC chief.

"Oi! Oi! Oi!" thundered the crowd.

The United States led the way in the final medal tally, collecting 97 (39 gold, 25 silver and 33 bronze). Russia was second with 88 (32, 28 and 28), and China third with 59 (28, 16, 15). Australia was fourth, with 58.

Greco-Roman gold medalist Rulon Gardner, who ended the 13-year undefeated streak of Russian super heavyweight Alexander Karelin, carried the U.S. flag during the closing ceremony.