The 2012 Olympics closed Sunday evening in a gala ceremony that has become the hallmark of the modern games.

It marked the second summer Olympics in which Finland left without a single gold medal.

Officials said that Finns met the required standard in sailing and track and field events.

However head of the Finnish Olympic team Kari Niemi-Nikkola said athletes fell short in wrestling, swimming and judo.

Earlier on Saturday night though two million ecstatic Finnish viewers watched Antti Ruuskanen take the bronze medal in the men's javelin event at the London Olympics.

Ruuskanen secured third place with a throw of 84.12 metres.

Finland's favourite for the competition, Tero Pitkämäki, came fifth in the competition. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott was the surprise winner of the event with a hurl of 84.58 metres.

Ruuskanen closed his country's Olympic campaign Sunday night by carrying the Finnish flag during the closing ceremony in London.

Other Finnish medallists were Tuuli Petäjä who took silver in the women’s RS-X windsurfing event, and the sailing trio led by Silja Lehtinen, who claimed bronze in the women’s match race sailing event.

The Olympic torch will next head towards Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where the 2016 games will take place.