The Visa London 2012 party on The Mall attracted more than 40,000 spectators to celebrate the Olympic handover at the close of the Beijing Olympics.
The public event featured a fly-by courtesy of the Red Arrows, an appearance from eight-times Gold medal winner Michael Phelps and performances from Will Young and Heather Small.
Visit London Chief Executive James Bidwell said that the historic celebrations showed London's passion and excitement for its own Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
"It has been a day of great celebration for London. Watched by an international television audience of billions, London showed the world it was ready and energised by the 2012 Games and its Host City status," Bidwell said. "The Olympics are like no other event on earth. As we have witnessed over the last two weeks, the Games have the power to transform a city and bring together a nation and today’s celebrations across London and Britain reflect this."
Commenting on the tourism benefits of the London 2012 Games, Bidwell added:
"Tourism in London is big business. It is worth over £16 billion each year to our capital’s economy and the tourism legacy of 2012 Games is a forecast £2.2 billion for London alone. Our status as host city for 2012 is unique and Visit London is committed to delivering this legacy of the Games to London and Londoners."
