Usain Bolt's lightning gold-medal runs, in less time than an average person takes to write the shortest text message, reflects the pace of life in today's world.

Till Sunday night, they were all part of what IOC President Jacques Rogge said was a "truly exceptional" Olympics.

But by last night, 11,263 members of different countries' teams, from the US and the UK to Russia and Malaysia, had left Beijing on 267 flights. Another 3,200 people will leave the city today.

Members of different Olympic delegations walk to a frontier inspection counter at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 25, 2008. The airport saw a peak traffic volume on Monday as many Olympic delegations left the Chinese capital. A total of 32,596 passengers would leave Beijing throughout the day, doubling the usual figure. [Xinhua]

And what was the Olympic Village till Sunday night had become Paralympic Village by yesterday morning, though it opens formally on Saturday.

Another sports spectacle will unfold in the shape of the Paralympics from September 6 to 17, but there is no denying the indescribable hollowness the end of the Olympics has left.

The sadness, however, did not stop Beijing Olympics organizers (BOCOG) from entertaining the departing athletes and officials, with volunteers dressed like Fuwa, the Games mascots, mingling with passengers in a part of Beijing airport's new terminal.

Photo taken on August 24, 2008 shows fireworks in the shape of Olympic Rings at the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. [Xinhua]

But not all athletes are in a hurry to leave, notwithstanding the glorious welcome awaiting some of them back home. Many of the athletes who sweated it out at the Games have decided to stay for some more days to explore Beijing – its food, nightclubs and shopping centers such as the iconic Silk Street.