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Beijing hands over, London celebrates

Spectators gather for the Olympic hand-over celebrations — “The Visa 2012 Party,” held near Buckingham Palace in London yesterday. On the last day of the Beijing Olympic Games, London 2012 hosted a free concert in The Mall to celebrate the moment when London becomes the official host city for the summer Olympic Games. The Visa London 2012 Party was attended by 40,000 people. PHOTO: EPA

Flying high after their best Olympic performance in a century, Britain celebrated the hand-over of the Olympic flag from Beijing yesterday with a street party outside the gold-tipped gates of Buckingham Palace.

Some 40,000 party-goers were expected on the capital’s streets for an event coinciding with the closing ceremony in China to mark the start of the countdown to the London Olympics in 2012.

The event will center on The Mall, the ceremonial route used for royal processions, state visits and national celebrations.

Britain won 19 gold medals at the Olympics in Beijing and came fourth in the medals table. At the Athens Games in 2004, British athletes won nine golds.

Queen Elizabeth II congratulated Britain’s athletes and looked forward to the London Games in 2012.

“The golden triumphs of the present British team can only serve as further inspiration to those who will be working hard over the next four years to make the London Games a shining example of Olympic success,” she said in a statement.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London organizing committee and a former 1,500m Olympic gold winner, said the eyes of the world would now turn to London.

“I hope the atmosphere on The Mall and across the entire UK will be electric,” he said. “It is a very proud moment for us.”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and London Mayor Boris Johnson were in Beijing. Johnson was handed the Olympic flag on behalf of London in a live television link-up, while American swimmer star Michael Phelps took center stage in London.

Phelps, who won a record eight golds in Beijing, said he was sure London would rise to the occasion.

“I know it’s going to be absolutely amazing,” he told Sky television. “I look forward to coming back here and swimming four years from now.”

“I am looking forward to trying some new events, some events I’ve never really had the opportunity to swim since my schedule is always so crowded,’’ Phelps said, adding he’s never competed in a backstroke event at a major international meet or in the 100m freestyle.

Only a few swimmers will be breathing a sigh of relief after Phelps confirmed his future plans.

“No breaststroke, no distance swimming, no water open swimming,” Phelps said. “At least those guys will still be my friends.”

Britain’s greatest Olympics performance for a century has thrilled the nation and reignited interest in the 2012 Games after grumbling about how much they will cost to stage.

Newspapers have devoted countless pages to coverage of Britain’s beaming medal winners, under headlines like “Great Haul of China” and “Midas Britons strike gold.”

More than 400 flags will be raised across Britain, from Land’s End, the most southerly point, to Unst Island off the Scottish coast.

East London will host a 1948 street party featuring vintage clothes, afternoon tea and post-war music to remember the last time the Olympics came to the capital. Dozens of giant screens were erected across the country for Britons to watch the hand-over from Beijing.
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