The final day of the Games of the 29th Olympiad is upon us, and this image from yesterday's men's 10m platform diving competition is the best visual metaphor this blog can come up with. It's almost time to come up for air.

The men's marathon is winding through the streets of Beijing in hot, stuffy early morning conditions, and there will be more on that later. For now, a few closed loops from the busiest day of the Olympics, the penultimate Day 15.

FIELD HOCKEY: This is truly golden era for German men's field hockey, as the country now owns the World Cup, Champions Trophy and now Olympic gold. All the side needed was one early goal by Christopher Zeller (Germany's penalty-stroke hero in the semifinal game) to defeat Spain 1-0.

The bronze medal match between momentary world No. 1 Australia and the Netherlands, a redo of the thrilling overtime gold medal game from Athens, was over quickly. The Dutch had their hearts split open during that semifinal loss to Germany that went overtime, and then featured a penalty stroke contest that went overtime. The Kookaburras banged out three goals in the first nine minutes and closed with a dominating 6-2 win. Three goals is a blowout in football, and a four-goal deficit in field hockey leads to questions as to why the team even showed up.

VOLLEYBALL: The current No. 1 women's team in the world, Brazil, has won four of the last five FIVB Grand Prix titles but never won a women's volleyball gold medal at the Olympics. That was rectified in dominant fashion as the Brazilians swept through pool play, then dominated all the way through the knockout stage. Against the United States on Day 15, Brazil lost the second set 25-18. It was the only set they lost for the entire tournament.

The U.S. clearly overachieved, spurred on by raw emotions after the bizarre street murder of a member of the country's volleyball delegation. But Brazil's 25-18, 18-25, 25-13, 25-21 win was complete and total, and overall it was the most impressive Olympic display of women's volleyball since Japan at Montreal 1976, which won all five of its games and all 15 of its sets.

But the story of the tournament is not complete without a Cuban sidebar. On the same day as the country's baseball team relinquished its gold medal to South Korea, the women's volleyballers exited meekly in the bronze medal match against defending gold medalists China. Cuba had lost just three sets in a 5-0 stomp through pool play, then smashed Serbia in the quarters.

But the wheels came off in the semis against the U.S., with unforced errors and slump-shouldered play more worthy of 0-5 Algeria. The U.S. won that match in surprising straight sets, and China won in four yesterday. Camera views during timeouts showed that the team was paying absolutely no attention to the words of longtime coach Antonio Perdomo, a classic "tune out." This blog imagines that the end of this story has not yet been reached.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has been quite busy lately and has issued rulings counter to the Olympic movement several times in the last few months, wrapped up its review of the seemingly endless Danish sailing imbroglio. Before the stormy, rainy 49er competition last Sunday, the two-man Danish crew's mast snapped and they borrowed the eliminated Croatians' boat, complete with "CRO" markings. Then they sailed to gold past the confused Spaniards and Italians. The CAS put down the final word yesterday -- Denmark will keep the medals -- but the pair really should take the Croats out to dinner or something.

Usain Bolt, Mr. Lightning, knows about giving back. Before leaving town with his three gold medals, he donated US $50,000 to the Red Cross to help children in the earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province. "You have to move forward after the disaster. And also, the Olympics ask people to move forward," Bolt told the media.

Finally, yes, we have to move forward. Nerve endings are red and tender, tear ducts are hopelessly itchy, but that's common at the end of the Olympics. But no matter what your emotional state at the moment, this is a beautiful image. It's the men's football medal ceremony at the Bird's Nest; Brazil is collecting its bronze medals as its semifinal conquerors, Argentina, enjoys its second consecutive golden moment. Attending the proceedings was Diego Maradona, Argentina's greatest player of all time. He took a moment to offer a small but resounding moment of tribute towards the greatest Brazilian player of the current age, Ronaldinho.

This is a place where generational arrogance fades, petty nationalism disappears, historical feuds are forgotten, and ultimate respect happens. You know, the Olympics.

Photo © Icon SMI; credit Associated Press