After International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach launched an appeal at the Opening Ceremony to take as many as possible, selfies have formed a running theme of these Games, with everyone ranging from volunteers to Bach himself taking one at every opportunity.

As well as being a means to record experiences and boost excitement, they have also been a way for the IOC to draw attention to the Games.

Earlier this week it was revealed the hastag #YOGselfie has been shared by 35 million people on Chinese micro-blogging site Sina Weibo, and seen by an estimated total of between 400 and 450 million people.

Closing Ceremony chief director Chen Weiya has now revealed the Closing Ceremony will "include a section devoted to the selfie".

He added: "Some of the selfies will be used on the big screen."

The Closing Ceremony will follow the example set by the IOC President in the opening one ©AFP/Getty Images


Chen also revealed the Closing Ceremony will be on a smaller scale than the Opening one on August 16, with a total of less than 2,000 participants, so under half of the number seen at the Opening Ceremony.

He highlighted that an extra handicap was provided by the athletics competition in the stadium, the Nanjing International Sports Centre, which meant that, until last night, rehearsals have had to take place elsewhere.

But he insisted that it will nonetheless be "a vigorous Closing Ceremony with great variety", with the aim once again to showcase a big gala party demonstrating  the "youth and joy of Nanjing" and how everyone is reluctant to leave.

Another section will be a homage to the Nanjing 2014 volunteers and, out of the thousands present around the city in recent weeks, six have been chosen to represent all of them in receiving a token of gratitude from six Chinese and international athletes.

Chen also expressed his hope that the weather would be better than the torrential rain seen before the start of the Opening Ceremony, but has systems in place to cope if it does rain.

"We hope it doesn't rain at the Closing Ceremony, but we have backup plans," he said.

"We hope it will not be heavy rain, just drizzle, and we hope that the heavens will help us with that."

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