Beijing - China again used rockets to disperse clouds so that rain would not dampen the fireworks at the Olympics closing ceremony, state media said Monday.

The action was taken after meteorologists detected the approach of rain clouds hours before Sunday evening's spectacular ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium.

Some 241 shells filled with silver iodide crystals were fired into the clouds, the media quoted the director of the Beijing Weather Service, Guo Hu, as saying.

In addition eight planes dropped chemicals into the air to clean up the skies and prevent new clouds formations.

At the Games' opening ceremony on August 8, the Weather Service fired 1,110 rain dispersal rockets into the clouds. (dpa)