Olympics: London celebrates with 'giant disco'

A general view the Spice Girls performing at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics at packed Olympic Stadium in Stratford east London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A phoenix rises from the Olympic Flame during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony

A general view as the fireworks signal the end of the London 2012 Olympics at packed Olympic Stadium in Stratford east London

The Games were hailed as a great success by Lord Coe

Fireworks during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games, London PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

RETRANSMITTED CORRECTING BYLINEA general view as the fireworks signal the end of the London 2012 Olympics at packed Olympic Stadium in Stratford east London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Fireworks light up the sky over the Olympic Stadium and the Orbit during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics Games. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Olympic Flame is extinguished during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Olympic Stadium in London for the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Olympic flame is lowered The London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday 12 August 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Duchess of Cambridge with Prince Harry by her side the end of the London 2012 Olympics at packed Olympic Stadium in Stratford east London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Fireworks over the Olympic Stadium and Orbit during the closing ceremony at the Olympic Park PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

RETRANSMITTED CORRECTING BYLINEA general view as the fireworks during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics at packed Olympic Stadium in Stratford east London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A general view as the fireworks during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics at packed Olympic Stadium in Stratford east London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: Tim Ireland/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Olympic Flame is lowered during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Dancers from Brazil perform during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Dancing street sweeper Renato Sorriso of Brazil performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

London Mayor Boris Johnson (left) hands the Olympic Flag to IOC President Jacques Rogge during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London

Entertainment during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

To mark the end of the London 2012 Olympic Games, EDF Energy have lit up the EDF Energy London Eye, County Hall and Shell Building on London's Southbank. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. There will continue to be a nightly lightshow on the EDF Energy London Eye throughout the Paralympics (29 August Ð 9 September 2012); powered by London 2012 tweets, the lightshow on the landmark reflects how positive the nation is feeling about the Paralympic Games www.edfenergyofthenation.com Photo credit should read: Matt Alexander/PA Wire

The closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: Tim Ireland/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Musician Annie Lennox performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: A general view of the Olympic Cauldron during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Band One Direction perform during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: A general view of the stadium during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Suggs and Madness perform during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Dancers perform during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: The flags of the competing nations are paraded through the stadium during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Lee Thompson of Madness performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: A general view of the Victoria park and the BT observation wheel close to the Olympic park during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games on August 12, 2012 in London, England. Athletes, heads of state and dignitaries from around the world have gathered in the Olympic Stadium for the closing ceremony of the 30th Olympiad. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Athletes gather in the centre of the stadium during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: The Olympic Cauldron burns in front of the Olympic rings during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Actor Timothy Spall plays the part of Winston Churchill during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Model Lily Cole poses during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Geri Halliwell of Spice Girls performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Musician Jessie J performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Taio Cruz performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Russell Brand performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Jessie J performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: The France team parade through the stadium during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: British supermodel Lily Donaldson during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Model Kate Moss performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The Spice Girls perform during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Spice Girls perform during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games, London PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, on the final day of the London 2012 Olympics. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Pet Shop Boys perform during The London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday 12 August 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Mods during the Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, on the final day of the London 2012 Olympics. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Norman Cook a.k.a. Fatboy Slim performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

George Michael performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Eric Idle performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Melanie Chisholm of The Spice Girls performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Emma Bunton of The Spice Girls performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Melanie Brown of The Spice Girls during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images)

Flag bearers during the Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, on the final day of the London 2012 Olympics. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Victoria Beckham of The Spice Girls performs during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games, London PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Russell Brand performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. RESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story Olympics . Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Liam Gallagher performs during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

A human cannonball performs during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic games, London PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

**EDITORS PLEASE NOTE A TILT SHIFT LENS HAS BEEN USED** The Olympic Stadium in London for the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Madness perform at The Olympic Stadium in London for the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

The Pet Shop Boys perform The Olympic Stadium in London for the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Geri Halliwell (right) and Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls performs during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 12, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

By Tom Sutcliffe – 13 August 2012

When he first promised us "the best after-show party there has ever been", Kim Gavin, director of the closing ceremony, can't possibly have known just how great the show was going to be.

Where Danny Boyle had had to reassure an anxious nation, primed to apologise or carp, Gavin simply had to lay on the celebration for a huge success. The guests for this non-exclusive event – millions of them – had arrived already happily drunk; intoxicated by unprecedented sporting success, proud of the way the world had been welcomed, thrilled at Olympic legends confirmed and new myths begun. And the venue for the celebration looked fantastic. The centrepiece was the city in miniature, sitting on a Damien Hirst spin-painting Union Flag – patriotism smeared into a new, less rigid form.

The BBC wisely didn't do anything that might compete with the opening of the festivities, counting down to 9pm with Eddie Butler and Reggie Yates presenting a kind of Party Political Broadcast for Us, big on elegiac slow-motion and heartfelt reflection.

Gavin himself started quietly – with Emeli Sandé, a choral version of the Beatles "Because" and Julian Lloyd Webber on the cello. For a moment it seemed as if he'd forgotten that everyone had come for an East End knees-up. But then Timothy Spall burst out of the top of Big Ben as Winston Churchill – reprieving the Caliban speech we'd heard in the opening ceremony – and Madness kicked off the karaoke section the crowd had been longing for.

"Surreal", an adjective horribly abused during the games themselves, was suddenly more legitimate as a traffic jam of newspaper-covered traffic was briefly halted for the appearance of Jacques Rogge and then gave way to an explosion of colour. The sound was dreadful... and got even worse when Ray Davies did "Waterloo Sunset".

But when you've got the Pet Shop boys trundling past on orange origami rickshaws it's difficult to concentrate much on musical quality or dodgy lip-sync. As the athletes arrived to fill the field, Elbow got the crowd to sing along and Kate Bush provided the backing for a retrospective of sporting highlights.

John Lennon kicked off the Symphony of British Music we'd been promised, giving way to George Michael, massed Lambrettas for the Kaiser Chief's cover of "Pinball Wizard" and what looked like Quality Street stormtroopers goose-stepping along to Bowie's "Fashion" and a parade of supermodels.

The athletes, the games and the spectators had been forgotten by now. Where Danny Boyle's opening show had been a statement of intent and national values, this was an hour-long advert for British stadium rock-show design. As such it was slick, impressive, often visually startling (the transparent octopus that accompanied Fat Boy Slim, Annie Lennox's arrival as a Vampire Viking). But for Olympic feeling you had to rely on the cutaways to the athletes, and you didn't get quite enough of those.

"It really is like being in a giant disco isn't it", said Trevor Nelson as Jessie J and Tinie Tempah told us we should be dancing. For once his unerring instinct for bathos had paid off. It was, but in the past two weeks the stadium has been so much more than that.