London 2012: The Closing Ceremony - In Focus. Last night in London, thousands of fans gathered in Olympic Stadium for the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 games. The spectacular show kicked off with fireworks and rolled into a series of performances by British pop stars from the past six decades, including Brian May, The Who, Blur, and George Michael. Even John Lennon and Freddie Mercury made posthumous appearances via video. Brazil gave a preview performance of things to come in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Games Organizing Committee, praised the execution of this year's summer games, saying, "When our time came, Britain, we did it right.
" (Also see our review of the ceremony by Angela Riechers.) [46 photos] Use j/k keys or ←/→ to navigate Choose: British prima ballerina Darcey Bussell flies into London's Olympic Stadium on a flaming phoenix during the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on August 12, 2012. Fireworks erupt above London's Olympic Stadium, on August 12, 2012.
London 2012: Celebrities take to Twitter to hail musical extravaganza that showcased the best of British artists. There was praise for Take That's frontman Gary Barlow - just a week after his daughter Poppy was stillborn, he bravely took to the stage to perform Stephen Fry: 'Goodness! Which is to say, Gracious! Closing ceremony is so far avoiding being a Croque Madame. Not cheesy, hammy or eggy so far'David Walliams: 'It always makes for a great party when you repeat the same five records again'Sports presenter Clare Balding: Have had to rewind to Boris throwing those shapes & watch it three times. Crying with laughter' By Jill Reilly Published: 01:34 GMT, 13 August 2012 | Updated: 13:52 GMT, 13 August 2012 It may not have had the drama and daring acts of the Opening Ceremony, but tonight's finale to the past two week's of Olympic action, still proved popular with celebrities on Twitter.
Costing around £13million, there was a lukewarm reaction to the show at the start, but when the tribute to British music began, high profile figures took to the social networking site to issue tweets of praise. London 2012 Closing Ceremony: Awe-inspiring shots from the fantastic fireworks show. An unbelievable 26 million people tuned in to watch the showThe Spice Girls, Take That, George Michael and many more acts wowed the packed Olympic Park at official end to London GamesMonumental firework display at the climax finished Games with a bang By Rob Preece Published: 08:54 GMT, 13 August 2012 | Updated: 14:39 GMT, 13 August 2012 After Britain's most successful Olympic Games for more than a century, it was only fitting that the closing ceremony should provide a spectacular send-off for the athletes who lit up London 2012.
And last night's extravaganza didn't disappoint, for it included one of the most spectacular fireworks displays that this nation has ever seen. Some 80,000 lucky ticket-holders with seats inside the Olympic Stadium witnessed thousands of rockets explode on a night of celebration. But hundreds of thousands more people in London also got to experience some of the festivities as the fireworks lit up the night sky to be seen for miles around. Scroll down for video 'Wow. London 2012 closing ceremony: Twitter backlash at appearance of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. Moss who has been involved in controversies involving her alleged cocaine abuse was branded an 'overpaid drug abusing model'Campbell - known for hurling mobile phones - prompted raised eyebrows, too in a ceremony supposedly celebrating the Olympic idealPiers Morgan wrote on Twitter: 'I suspect Kate Moss might fail her drugs test later' By Katherine Faulkner Published: 23:30 GMT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 09:22 GMT, 13 August 2012 They are some of fashion’s best known names.
But the appearance of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell provoked an instant Twitter backlash last night. There was also ridicule on Twitter at the inclusion of supermodel Moss – who has been involved in controversies involving her alleged cocaine abuse - and was branded an ‘overpaid drug abusing model’. Controversial: The appearance of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell provoked an instant Twitter backlash last night History: Both supermodels have been involved in controversies over the years Suitable role models?
David Cameron and Boris Johnson just can't help dad dancing as they watch the Spice Girls perform. Prime Minister and the Mayor of London were filmed dancing with their wives Samantha Cameron and Marina Wheeler Cameron and Johnson threw some shapes to the Spice Girls performing Spice Up Your Life By Suzannah Hills Published: 23:08 GMT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 15:23 GMT, 13 August 2012 Many comedy sketches in the closing ceremony were meant to get a giggle from the crowd, but one of the funniest moments was completely unrehearsed - with Boris Johnson and David Cameron leaving viewers on stitches with their 'dad dancing' to the Spice Girls.
The crowd erupted as the Spice Girls drove into the stadium in black cabs to make their first performance together since 2008 when their world tour was cut short. But as Sporty, Posh, Scary, Baby and Ginger Spice launched into a rendition of Spice Up Your Life while standing on top of their taxis, the camera panned round to show some unlikely stars of the show - Boris Johnson and Cameron strutting their stuff with their wives.
London 2012 closing ceremony: Del Boy and Rodney stage escape from iconic Reliant Robin. Comedy sketch a tribute to the most famous episode of Only Fools and Horses and classic British film The Italian Job Recreated scene where Del Boy and Rodney become real-life crime fighters while in Batman and Robin fancy dress By Suzannah Hills Published: 21:42 GMT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 07:31 GMT, 13 August 2012 Everyone remembers that scene from Only Fools and Horses where Del Boy and Rodney donned too tight Batman and Robin outfits... Well, they do in the UK at least. And while the rest of the world may have been baffled why two men were driving a battered old van in the middle of the Olympic Stadium, it did give the British crowd a laugh, with even the Royal attendees Prince Harry and Kate obviously amused. 'You plonker!
' Off with a bang: The battered old van then blew up as scenes from the movie The Italian Job were shown on big screens around the stadium 'You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off! ' Olympians celebrate a break from all the hard work... with a McDonald's. By Suzannah Hills Published: 01:15 GMT, 13 August 2012 | Updated: 22:48 GMT, 13 August 2012 They've spent the last four years training and eating carefully to make sure they were on top form for London 2012. So now that it's over, it's understandable some athletes would want to indulge before launching themselves into preparation for Rio 2016. And many did just just that in the early hours this morning - heading down to the local McDonald's in Stratford straight after the closing ceremony finished. Surprising dinner choice: Athletes made the most of free McDonald's at the Olympic Village Night off: The athletes obviously decided to splurge on fast food now the London 2012 Olympics is over GB men's four reserve rower Cameron Nichol took a picture of the crowd of athletes all queuing for a late night burger and fries.
Next to the unlikely image of athletes descending on a fast food restaurant, he tweeted: 'Every athlete in the world wants a maccy d's...' London 2012 Closing Ceremony: Feeling sad about the end of the Games? Eric Idle leads 80,000 crowd in rendition of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. Prince Harry represented the Royal Family alongside Kate MiddletonScale model of London took centre-stage wrapped entirely in newspaperAthletes appeared through the crowd and filled Damien Hirst interpretation of the Union FlagPerformers included Emeli Sande, Madness, Pet Shop Boys, Ray Davies, George Michael, Jessie J and Annie LennoxKaiser Chiefs and Ed Sheeran led tributes to British greats The Who, David Bowie and Pink FloydStadium turned into huge catwalk with appearances from supermodels Naomi Campbell & Kate MossBlack London cabs performed 'taxi ballet' before the Spice Girls emerged and performed medley of hitsOlympic Flag was handed over to 2016 hosts Rio de Janeiro to rousing applause By Ian Garland Published: 19:47 GMT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 17:33 GMT, 14 August 2012 The audience at the Olympics closing ceremony were treated to a taste of Britain's comedy heritage last night when Monty Python star Eric Idle appeared onstage.
Scroll down for video 'Wow. This is it... London 2012 closing ceremony: How we went out of the Games just as we began... on an eccentric high. By Robert Hardman Published: 00:12 GMT, 13 August 2012 | Updated: 14:44 GMT, 13 August 2012 So goodbye, World. Thanks for coming. And if you are boarding your plane home this morning still wondering quite what it is that makes the British tick, don’t worry. We will continue to debate that one ourselves. At the end of what will be one of the defining moments in Britain’s 21st Century history, we took our final bow last night.
And we chose to do so, before a global television audience, with skating nuns, Mods, rockers, a fluorescent octopus, a human cannonball, Del Boy’s Reliant Robin and Roman legionaries. Unique: Eric Idle performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony surrounded by nuns on skates. Historic: At the end of what will be one of the defining moments in Britain¿s 21st Century history, we took our final bow last night.
Spectacular: A human cannonball prepares for his performance during the Closing Ceremony First, this was not a Danny Boyle production. London 2012 closing ceremony: Athletes parade into Olympic stadium carrying flags of every nation. By Tom Gardner Published: 21:54 GMT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 09:42 GMT, 13 August 2012 They may have just finished days of grueling competition, but the Olympic athletes showed no signs of running out of steam as they took centre stage in the closing ceremony. Thousands of the stars of London 2012 from all the nations poured into the Olympic stadium as the Games reached a dramatic climax. And after all the pressures of vying for gold, they could at last let their hair down and have some fun.
Celebration: A British athlete waves a Union Jack flag as athletes from all over the world parade during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in London Going for a spin: British gymnast Louis Smith rides a scooter as the athletes march in during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games Flying the flag: As the athletes flooded into the Olympic stadium for the finale they formed the Union Flag VIDEO: Olympic gold medallists look back at the Games. The greatest disco on Earth! Pixel animations turn Olympic Stadium into psychedelic light show. By Anthony Bond Published: 22:32 GMT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 16:28 GMT, 15 August 2012 After hosting the greatest sporting event on Earth, the Olympic Stadium was transformed into the greatest disco on Earth for the Closing Ceremony. Larger-than-life digital images were thrown around the stadium during the event which marks London's big farewell to the 2012 Olympics.
The animations - known as pixels - were used to help draw the audience, both in the packed arena and watching on television, in to the Closing Ceremony's massive celebration of British music. Spectacular: Larger-than-life digital images were thrown around the Olympic Stadium during the Closing Ceremony. Stunning: The animations - known as pixels - were used to help draw the audience, both in the packed arena and watching on television, in to the closing ceremony's massive celebration of British music It featured an array of stars from the British music scene spanning from 1967 to 2012 performing their biggest hits. King of the Closing Ceremony: Prince Harry is joined by Kate as he takes centre stage as the top Royal. Their appearance was part of a plan to leave the Games to younger Royals Kate accompanied Harry as the Duke of Cambridge was at work in Wales By Paul Harris Published: 20:41 GMT, 12 August 2012 | Updated: 17:32 GMT, 14 August 2012 Prince Harry was launched into a new leading role in the royal family last night when he took centre stage at the Olympic closing ceremony.
In his most important solo Royal engagement yet, the third in line to the throne was selected as the figurehead for the spectacular farewell to the Games, which the Queen opened two weeks ago. The high-profile task of celebrating Britain’s glory at London 2012 fell to the 27-year-old prince, sitting alongside the Duchess of Cambridge, after a succession of prominent appearances in the crowd at many of the history-making events of the competition. He stepped in after his brother William, the Duke of Cambridge, had to return to work as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley in North Wales. Scroll down for video. Olympics closing ceremony: It's £1,500 to see the Olympics closing ceremony (if you can bear the Spice Girls) Limited number of seats could be sold on official site on Sunday once stage is built in Olympic StadiumPaul McCartney, The Who, Ray Davies and Spice Girls to perform in 'Symphony of British Music' on Sunday night By Louise Eccles and Alasdair Glennie Published: 16:24 GMT, 10 August 2012 | Updated: 12:37 GMT, 11 August 2012 It will be one of the most hotly anticipated reunions in pop music – but would you be willing to pay £1,500 for the pleasure?
Tickets for the Olympics closing ceremony, where the Spice Girls will reunite for the first time in four years, were still available yesterday for £1,500. But for those with less deep pockets, organisers have revealed they may be able to release ‘a few hundred’ additional tickets tomorrow morning, across all price ranges, after finalising the seating plans at the Olympic Stadium. Scroll down for video Belting it out: Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Mel C and Mel B are sure to delight their millions of fans with the performance. Olympics 2012 Closing Ceremony: Mini London Eye that will bring the curtain down. By Arthur Martin Published: 22:52 GMT, 5 August 2012 | Updated: 15:11 GMT, 6 August 2012 Next Sunday’s closing ceremony looks as if it will be just as spectacular as the opening showpiece. Models of London landmarks will provide a backdrop to the two-hour event, including a 30ft ferris wheel, symbolising the London Eye, and replicas of Tower Bridge, Big Ben and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Most will be wrapped in newspaper print featuring references to works of art and literature. One headline comes from the opening line of William Blake’s poem The Tyger. Closing time: A 30ft ferris wheel is being constructed to represent the London Eye Thousands inside the athletics arena and an estimated TV audience of 4billion will watch a cast of thousands, including hundreds of circus performers who have been rehearsing at the Ford Dagenham plant in East London.
Other parts of the show will feature a replica of Del Boy’s Reliant Robin from the sitcom Only Fools and Horses.