Sri Lanka, Aug. 10 -- Birmingham hosted a musical extravaganza to bring the curtain down on a spectacular XXII Commonwealth Games where records were broken, accolades won and memories to last a lifetime made.

A city that rose Phoenix-like from the ashes after being the third most bombed city during World War Two, Birmingham embraced the Commonwealth Games like no other has done before it, a constant backdrop of jam-packed grandstands vindicating its relevance in the international sporting calendar.

Eleven days of action drew to a close at Alexander Stadium on Monday night as organisers turned the traditional Closing Ceremony into a non-stop party involving local luminaries like Dexy's Midnight Runners and UB40. "These Games have been bo...