Pop stars, choirs, dancing policemen and a boisterous singalong to “We Are The Champions.” After the orderly precision of the Beijing Olympics, it was time on Sunday for a first look at what organisers hope will be the fun of London 2012.

About 40,000 flag-waving people gathered in front of Buckingham Palace for a party to celebrate the handover from Beijing as the British capital got its first chance to show what it hopes will be a quirky, personal and fun approach to the Games. As music played from a huge stage erected next to the ornate gates of Queen Elizabeth II’s official residence, even the police indulged in a brief embarrassed dance when invited to by the master of ceremonies — a sight difficult to imagine in China.

Admittedly, even a flyby from the Royal Air Force’s famed Red Arrows aerial acrobatic team couldn’t help the show compete with the scale and coordination that wowed athletes, officials and fans alike in Beijing over the past two weeks. But in terms of conveying what London has to offer, the show did its job. Even the summer weather played along, providing warm sunshine and cooling showers in equal measure.

“Every city has had its big twist on the games, what they have that’s different to every other county,” said swim star Michael Phelps, who was at the London show. “The Olympic movement is about bringing the world together. I’m not sure what that difference will be but I’m looking forward to seeing what it is and how this city develops.”

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