Nuns on skates, a human cannonball, dancing zombies and the ghosts of Lennon and Mercury: How we went out of the Games just as we began... on an eccentric high
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. Romans? Me neither.
![Unique: Eric Idle performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony surrounded by nuns on skates. The ceremony was watched by a huge global audience](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-148568B2000005DC-105_964x530.jpg)
Unique: Eric Idle performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Closing Ceremony surrounded by nuns on skates. The ceremony was watched by a huge global audience
![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. This image shows artists performing as dancing zombies](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14850AAB000005DC-354_964x670.jpg)
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. This image shows artists performing as dancing zombies
![Spectacular: A human cannonball prepares for his performance during the Closing Ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14858963000005DC-106_964x996.jpg)
Spectacular: A human cannonball prepares for his performance during the Closing Ceremony
![Olympics 2012 - BBC Coverage\nClosing ceremony\nKids sing Imagine as giant John Lennon head is built.\n\n\n\n\nPicture by Pixel8000 07917221968](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14850E27000005DC-674_470x505.jpg)
![A video of Freddie Mercury on a big screen during the London Olympic Games 201](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14857250000005DC-664_470x505.jpg)
Living on: Famous musicians from the past such as John Lennon and Freddie Mercury were featured
![Dramatic: Neil Tennant, singer of the Pet Shop Boys, performs during the Closing Ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1484CE8F000005DC-156_472x746.jpg)
Dramatic: Neil Tennant, singer of the Pet Shop Boys, performs during the Closing Ceremony
As with the opening ceremony, the arguments about what should and should not have been in this vast tableau of Britishness will be rumbling until Rio 2016.
Once again, we decided to omit most of our more significant contributions to the world. Parliamentary democracy? Bobbies on the beat? DNA or atomic theory? The postage stamp? Another time, perhaps.
This, however, was to be another sizzling montage of post-war popular culture. There was the odd homage to history. We had a token glimpse of some morris dancers.
We, finally, saw that definitive image of London, the bearskins of the Massed Bands of the Household Division (performing Blur’s Parklife, as it happens).
But the dress code was emphatically Cool Britannia, the spirit irreverent and eccentric. The main thing was that we went out just as we had begun: on a high.
Asked to describe his production, artistic director Kim Gavin likened it to the disco after a wedding.
He said that he wanted it to be ‘the best after-show party ever’. London’s ringmaster, Lord Coe, offered an alternative interpretation: ‘Party, party, party!’ And so we did.
Despite the similar exuberant, larky tone, there were two principal differences between this and the opening ceremony.
First, this was not a Danny Boyle production. Second, Mr Gavin did not have weeks to play around with the stadium.
He only got the keys in the early hours of yesterday morning. So his cast were still rehearsing as the 70,000-strong audience were taking their seats.
The show opened to London landmarks wrapped in newsprint like fish and chips and raised above a 400ft long Damien Hirst ‘electric storm painting’ of the Union Flag.
Viewed closely, the headlines were actually extracts from English literature. But the focus was a traffic jam.
Most Olympic cities present themselves in utopian terms. Here was London choosing to celebrate congestion.
Sir Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall) suddenly popped out of Big Ben like a jack-in-the-box to recite Shakespeare’s ‘The Isle is full of noises’ speech – and then to tell everyone to shut up.
![Bizarre: An artist drives a car covered in newspaper wrapping during the spectacular ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1484C97B000005DC-545_964x592.jpg)
Bizarre: An artist drives a car covered in newspaper wrapping during the spectacular ceremony
![Stunning: Sir Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall) popped out of Big Ben like a jack-in-the-box to recite Shakespeare¿s ¿The Isle is full of noises¿ speech](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1484C9CA000005DC-770_964x1102.jpg)
Stunning: Sir Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall) popped out of Big Ben like a jack-in-the-box to recite Shakespeare¿s ¿The Isle is full of noises¿ speech
Cue a fanfare from the Royal Household trumpeters. In walked the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, with the royal guest of honour, Prince Harry.
There were plenty of Diamond Jubilee echoes in the line-up. Madness appeared with a reprise of Our House, the infectious number they performed two months back on the Palace roof. They were accompanied by a fleet of lorries, each with a street party on the back.
All this urban chaos closed with Waterloo Sunset, an inspired and moving choice sung by the original Kinks frontman, Ray Davies. Marvellous.
This was the summons for the real stars of the show.
The 204 national flags came on in protocol order (quadruple gold winner Ben Ainslie carried Britain’s). But, by tradition, the athletes always rush on in a chaotic demob-happy jumble. Elbow’s One Day Like This was made for just such a moment.
![Lively: Artists proudly wave Union Jack flags during the performance, which was a sizzling montage of post-war popular culture](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1484CC9F000005DC-145_964x665.jpg)
Lively: Artists proudly wave Union Jack flags during the performance, which was a sizzling montage of post-war popular culture
![Amazing: Famous landmarks of London were constructed during the ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1484DF9D000005DC-334_964x1079.jpg)
Amazing: Famous landmarks of London were constructed during the ceremony
![Musical talent: Madness lead singer Graham McPherson - better known as Suggs - was one of the stars of the show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1484EBAA000005DC-936_964x642.jpg)
Musical talent: Madness lead singer Graham McPherson - better known as Suggs - was one of the stars of the show
With the athletes playing the part of a rock festival crowd, and chaperoned by stewards in bowler hats sprouting lightbulbs, Mr Gavin poured five decades of hits all over them.
Ghostly apparitions of Freddie Mercury and John Lennon were joined by George Michael, the Pet Shop Boys in bizarre pointed hats, the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox (plus a ghost ship full of dancing zombies) and a squadron of Mods on scooters led by the Kaiser Chiefs.
A lorryload of One Direction had earlier ticked the teen box.
In the end, of course, we had to let go. The delegation from Rio de Janeiro was waiting in the wings.
The transition from London to Rio, from confident, grubby Old World capital to half-naked beach party town, was never going to be a seamless switch. There was one obvious candidate to link the two, a man synonymous with both cities. But Ronnie Biggs was unavailable.
![Balancing act: Gymnasts perform a spectacular routine during the event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1484EE4A000005DC-425_964x1165.jpg)
Balancing act: Gymnasts perform a spectacular routine during the event
![Scaled-down London! Landmarks of the capital make up the set for the Closing Ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14850000000005DC-22_964x630.jpg)
Scaled-down London! Landmarks of the capital make up the set for the Closing Ceremony
![Royal laughs: Prince Harry and Kate Middleton share a joke during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485081E000005DC-950_964x656.jpg)
Royal laughs: Prince Harry and Kate Middleton share a joke during the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
![Centre stage: Dancers stretch their arms out during their performance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14850BB4000005DC-359_964x640.jpg)
Centre stage: Dancers stretch their arms out during their performance
There was a palpable sense of loss as a studious Boris Johnson handed over the flag. It was entirely right, however, that the last (British) word should go to Lord Coe, pre-eminent architect of all this.
‘When our time came, Britain, we did it right,’ he said, his voice at times cracking with understandable emotion. ‘Thank you!’
Lord Coe was followed by the man who, some say, he will one day succeed as the most powerful figure in world sport.
![Comeback: Pop icon George Michael performed Freedom as well as his new single White Light](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14851501000005DC-458_964x843.jpg)
Comeback: Pop icon George Michael performed Freedom as well as his new single White Light
![Memories: German high jumper Ariane Friedrich takes a picture during the show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14851B0B000005DC-857_964x886.jpg)
Memories: German high jumper Ariane Friedrich takes a picture during the show
![Big gig: Kaiser Chiefs played The Who's Pinball Wizard after a dark blue light descended on the stadium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485203C000005DC-176_964x640.jpg)
Big gig: Kaiser Chiefs played The Who's Pinball Wizard after a dark blue light descended on the stadium
![Happy to take part: Five young girls play their part in making history](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485238F000005DC-200_964x752.jpg)
Happy to take part: Five young girls play their part in making history
![Athlete Lawrence Okoye of Great Britian enjoys the atmosphere](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14852ABD000005DC-796_470x423.jpg)
![Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron attends the closing ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14852B34000005DC-403_470x423.jpg)
Soaking it all up Athlete Lawrence Okoye of Great Britain enjoys the atmosphere as well as Prime Minister David Cameron
It is customary for the Olympic hosts to hang on the IOC president’s every word until he utters the ultimate verdict on the Games.
Though not one of life’s orators, Rogge did not disappoint. It fell to our greatest living ballerina, Darcey Bussell, to float down from somewhere on high and begin a mesmerising snuffing of the great flame.
Each country got a going-away present, too, a ‘petal’ from the Olympic cauldron (complete, one hopes, with a pair of oven gloves).
And so, with fireworks and The Who’s My Generation, London and Great Britain waved an emotional, explosive farewell to those five rings with which we have had a turbulent but ultimately happy relationship these last seven years. It has been a staggering fortnight.
We will be chewing it over for years to come. For now, the only question worth asking is this: are we any different? It would be nice to think so.
![Style: Supermodels Lily Cole, Karen Elson, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell walk the catwalk in a show of British beauty and design](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14852ECE000005DC-892_964x635.jpg)
Style: Supermodels Lily Cole, Karen Elson, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell walk the catwalk in a show of British beauty and design
![British comedian Russell Brand performs during the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, in London.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14853066000005DC-695_470x917.jpg)
![A performer is airborne during the Closing Ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14856659000005DC-206_470x917.jpg)
Spectacle: Russel Brand sang his own version of The Beatles hit, I am The Walrus, while a performer leapt out a canon
![Crowd pleaser: British DJ and musician Fatboy Slim performs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-14859489000005DC-163_964x652.jpg)
Crowd pleaser: British DJ and musician Fatboy Slim performs
![The Olympic flame is taken away at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485952E000005DC-584_470x613.jpg)
![Geri Halliwell of The Spice Girls performs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485AEB3000005DC-835_470x613.jpg)
Reunion: The crowd roared as the Spice Girls, including Geri Haliwell took to the stage inside the stadium
![Performers during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, London, Britain, 12 August 2012. EPA/NIC BOTHMA](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485A3F3000005DC-928_964x637.jpg)
Full house: Colourful dancers entertain the packed stadium
![colour: Fireworks light up the sky above the Olympic Park](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485B3B8000005DC-484_964x616.jpg)
Explosion of colour: Fireworks light up the sky above the Olympic Park
![Jubilant: Dancers cheer during the show inside the stadium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485C099000005DC-315_964x635.jpg)
Jubilant: Dancers cheer during the show inside the stadium
![Impressive The show was a coloruful affair with an array of dazzling props](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485C0A3000005DC-461_964x644.jpg)
Impressive: The show was a coloruful affair with an array of dazzling props
![Rejoicing: British swimmer Hannah Miley throws confetti up in the air](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/13/article-2187495-1485C388000005DC-218_964x1171.jpg)
Rejoicing: British swimmer Hannah Miley throws confetti up in the air
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