After two weeks of spectacle, fierce competition, and scandal, the 27th Summer Olympic Games closed Sunday in Sydney on an appropriately grand note. They ended with a lavish and humorous ceremony that rivaled Barnum and Bailey as the greatest show on Earth. Listen as NPR's Tom Goldman reports on the closing from Sydney, Australia, for Morning Edition.

The final day of Olympic competition brought another wakeup call for the Dream Team and a nightmare finish for American boxers and wrestlers. Hungary won the final day with a gaggle of gold medals in rowing and water polo, but the United States sealed a comfortable victory in the national medals race.

Listen as Weekend Edition Sunday host Frank Stasio reviews the Olympics with NPR's Tom Goldman, reporting from Sydney.

Carter Sparks Basketball Win
The star-laden U.S. men's basketball team takes home the gold medal after an 85-75 victory over France. But the Americans looked far from invincible on their way to the title, scraping past Lithuania in the semi-final and leading France by just four points with a little over three minutes to play. Vince Carter led a late surge with a key steal and an explosive dunk -- and Carter and Ray Allen led U.S. scorers with 13 points each.

U.S. Boxers Cry Foul
Losses by world champion Rocky Juarez and teammate Ricardo Williams in the boxing finals produced complaints from the U.S. corner that Russian referee Stanislav Kirsanov wasn't doing his job. International amateur boxing officials handed Kirsanov a four-year suspension, but allowed the results of the fights to stand. Juarez, outpointed by Bekzal Sattakhanov of Kazakhstan, had won 68 straight bouts over two years going into the gold medal match.

Sunday's boxing gold medalists included Wijan Ponlid of Thailand; Mahamadkadyz Abdullaev of Uzbekistan, who outpointed Williams; Yermakhan Ibraimov of Kazakhstan; Alexander Lebziak of Russia and Audley Harrison of Britain.

Wrestlers Settle for Silver, Bronze
American freestyle wrestlers couldn't match the stunning upset produced by teammate Rulon Gardner in the Greco-Roman discipline. They settled for two silver medals and two bronzes in eight weight classes. Samuel Henson and Bradon Slay claimed silver on Saturday. Terry Brands and Lincoln McIlravy earned bronze Sunday.

Sunday's wrestling gold medalists included Alireza Dabir of Iran, Daniel Igali of Canada, Adam Saitiev of Russia, and David Moussoulbes of Russia.

Ethiopia's Abera Wins Marathon
African runners dominated the men's marathon, with Ethiopia's Gezahgne Abera seizing gold in 2:10.11. Abera finished 20 seconds ahead of Kenya's Eric Wainaina and a full minute ahead of Ethiopian teammate Tesfaye Tola, who claimed the bronze medal.

Fischer Wins Seventh Gold
Six more rowing events were decided Sunday, and German kayaker Birgit Fischer emerged with her seventh career gold medal. She teamed with Katrin Wagner to win the 500-meter pairs event.

Gold Medal Roundup
In other gold medal action Sunday, Yugoslavia beat Russia in men's volleyball; Denmark came from way behind to defeat Hungary, 31-27, in women's team handball; Hungary's men's water polo team defeated Russia, 13-6; Dutch riders Jeroen Dubbeldam and Albert Voorn finished first and second in the individual show jumping event at the equestrian center; Britain's Stephanie Cook won the first women's modern pentathlon; Yulia Barsukova of Russia won the women's individual all-around title in rhythmic gymnastics; Josefa Idem Guerrini of Italy in the women's kayak singles; Hungary's Ferenc Novak and Imre Pulai in the men's 500 meter canoe doubles; Hungary's Gyorgy Kolonics in the men's 500 meter canoe singles; Hungary's Zoltan Kammerer and Botond Storcz in the men's 500 meter kayak doubles; and Norway's Knut Holmann in the men's 500 meter kayak singles.

U.S. Wins Medals Race
A final count shows the United States with 97 total medals, 39 of them gold. Russia finished second with 88 medals, including 32 gold. China was third with 59 medals, 28 of them gold.