Organisers have long known they will be unable to match Beijing in terms of scale, not least because London’s Olympic budget of 9 billion pounds is less than half that of its predecessor. But Sunday’s show — with its occasional awkward pauses, high spirits and relentless audience participation in dance-offs, competitions and Mexican waves — suggested that London is set on providing a total contrast to what has been described as Beijing’s “no-fun games.” Even if that means mustering self-deprecating laughter at one’s own shortcomings.

“We will draw on our wit, flair, imagination and ingenuity to build on what we’ve all witnessed in Beijing and deliver a fantabulous Olympics in what I consider to be not only my home, but the home of sport,” London mayor Boris Johnson said from Beijing.

In a city with a long history of music hall entertainment, it was probably appropriate that the gathered masses of families, fans, teenagers and tourists were entertained by some of British television’s most popular entertainers. While big screens around the country showed Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and football star David Beckham live at the official ceremony in Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium, less internationally recognised names such as operatic quartet II Divo, boyband McFly and Will Young — the first winner of Britain’s Pop Idol TV show — took to the stage in central London.

“I can’t believe they’re really here,” said 14-year-old McFly fan Lisa Evans, who said she had arrived at 7:30 am to see her idols perform their two songs almost six hours later. “This is the best thing about the Olympics.”

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