I must say I didn't like very much the opening ceremony. Not been biased here but the opening ceremony (winter olympics) that I loved most was Torino 2006. On the other hand the closing ceremony just blow me away. Beautiful, just marvellous, and I confess I cried too. :
The best closing ceremony I can remember.
I agree that the closing was great. It seemed to have been more tightly choreographed, and the ring "malfunction" self-parody was a stroke of genius. Good that everyone had a laugh, much like the Vancouver closing when the fourth leg had a "do-over". I was at the Vancouver closing in person and cried when Neil Young played as the flame was being extinguished. It's one of my happiest memories in life.
But I think every single Olympic opening ceremony paled in comparison to Beijing 2008, and every closing to Sydney 2000. But that's just me.