So it looks like the closing ceremony is even better than the opening one.

[sp1814]

Can we really complain about the sheer quality of the show?

Not too 'Leftist' or too multicultural is it? (apart from Tinie, Jessie and Taoi).

[ichkeria]

Ray Davis' Waterloo Sunset was rather magical. I just wish Jacques Rogge had a slightly less funereal air about him!

[Gromit]

Princess Anne was there

http://uk.eurosport.y...-photo-205600387.html

[Gromit]

New Zealand Herald
// Over 80,000 people turned up to bid farewell to the London Olympics here in Stratford, and they were treated to a pop culture smorgasbord that had touches of brilliance, beauty, and bewilderment - often at the same time.

If the opening ceremony showcased the history of British grit and the evolution of its popular culture, then today's grand finale showed us Great Britain as we know it.

So there we go. It's all over. The London Olympics signed off today in a triumphant fashion, talking about our generation. //

[dennisb66]

A thoroughly memorial event from start to finish,but what would it take to put a smile on Jacqes Rogget's face.
Now for the Para Olympics,carn't wait.

[emmie]

closing ceremony was one long party, great for the athletes and those attending. Better way to celebrate than much of the opening ceremony.

[dotty.]

I have to say I was moved to tears when John Lennon's image came up suddenly on those big screens, it was amazing. Loved most of it and thought George Michael in particular was amazing just being on his own in the middle of the arena, some of them, Russell Brand for one and Annie Lennox for another, needed the might of a west end production to get through their acts.
Spice Girls amazing but Posh looked a little car sick at the end of her lap! The audience and the athletes must have been blown away being there. stunning ideas, that John Lennon sculpture they built was inspired and the whole use of the lighting and the Union flag as the basis to it all was genius. !0 out of 10 Damien Hirst.

[Ann]

///And where was the Royal Family? Surely LIzzie could have shown her face for 10 minutes, and Anne, as an Olympian, would have been my choice.
I suppose they wanted to show off the younger, more with it royals... ///

Quite surprised that Prince Harry looked so serious, not like him at all, didn't even see him smile which was a shame as he is usually such fun and after all, it was supposed to be a party atmosphere!

[I.Caramba]

The BBC reports how the world saw it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/.../uk-politics-19238284

[murraymints]

slow start picked up though..George Michael, Take That and The Who my favs...

[Gromit]

Don't think Cameron would have liked it. Too much Indian dancing and drummers.

[Kromovaracun]

Ludwig,

"How come you didn't turn over then? "

Because I was watching it with a large group of people, nearly all of whom were just watching because they wanted the Spice Girls to come on. When that and Eric Idle's part after it had finished, we stopped watching.

[sp1814]

Disappointed that Kate Bush and Adele didn't appear, but by and large the organisers managed to cover just about every major musical style over the past fifty years. Quite and achievement.

And Boris Johnson doing a 'dad dance' to Spice Girls is a sight I shall never (unfortunately) be able to forget.

[Kromovaracun]

@Murray:

I'm pretty sure George Michael was miming...

[rowanwitch]

Sadly I have been left with a dreadful earworm anyone know a way to get myself out of a horrible 'Parklife' loved it.... except for mr Gallagher and Mr Rogge who seemed to have missed the point

Loved the way the crowd responded to Freddie Mercury and John Lennon not bad when the two best acts were dead

[bibblebub]

the biggest letdown was that time was given for the gold-covered, cocaine-snorting, empty-headed, glorified clothes hangers to bask in the glory of people who actually achieve real things

[sir.prize]

George Michae's pics in the paper make him looked as though he had been dug up to perform.

[sp1814]

bibblebub

They were there to represent the British fashion industry.

I thought it was appropriate that we should celebrate British fashion (one of largest export industries), but perhaps the way it was done couldn't been better...maybe highlighting iconic designers - Westwood, McQueen, Smith, Treacy, McCartney (Stella, not Paul) - with a catwalk show with each model wearing something from one of their best collections.

In addition, giant pop art photos of Twiggy back in the sixties, Bibo and shots of Mary Quant and David Bailey would've hammered the point home.

Oh, and I don't think it's particularly fair to single out models as druggies, when half the music acts performing have...rather 'large nostrils' themselves.

[sp1814]

Kromovaracun

George sang his first song live (I didn't watch his second song, because I don't think it was an appropriate platform to present new material).

However, Annie Lennox DID mime - which was weird, because she has a great voice.

[murraymints]

George was defo live as he was talking at times during his performance....but agree a new single was NOT really a good idea...wish he had done don't let the sun go down !