London erupted with joy Wednesday after it was named the host of the 2012 Olympic Games, beating arch-rival Paris and three other cities in a nail-biting contest.
A crowd of thousands whooped and cheered as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), meeting in Singapore, broadcast its announcement on two giant television screens erected in Trafalgar Square.
Union Jack flags waved and music blasted as Londoners celebrated in the square, which aptly features Nelson's Column dedicated to Admiral Horatio Nelson, who 200 years ago defeated the French at the Battle of Trafalgar effectively ending Napoleon's ambitions of invading England.
"I can't believe it, it was so nerve wracking," said Dame Kelly Holmes, who won two gold medals at last year's Games in Athens and was helping to host the London party,
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summing up the agonising wait felt by the whole country ahead of the decision.
London, which also beat off Madrid, Moscow and New York after more than two years of campaigning, must now turn plans for a major overhaul of its rickety transport network and the construction of an Olympic Park into a reality.
But for the time being, organisers and the public were swept up with celebrating the news and toasting the London bid team, led by double Olympic medal winner Sebastian Coe, for its efforts to turn what was first considered a long-shot at the title into a genuine chance.
Pop singers such as Heather Small -- who performed the theme tune to the London bid, "Proud" -Mel C -- formerly of the British pop sensation the Spice Girls -- and Rachel Stevens were due to perform at the so-called "Thank You" party, while a Samba band was also entertaining the crowds.
A separate party is being held in Stratford, east London, where an Olympic stadium will be built along with a host of additional sporting venues, transport links and other projects.
"It is wonderful it is fantastic for London," said Belinda Impey, 50, a lawyer in the city who was celebrating with the revellers at Trafalgar Square.
School children, many wearing "Make Britain Proud" T-shirts, sport fans, businessmen and women in suits and curious tourists joined in the festivities, which as well as Holmes, also featured former world 1500 metre champion and Olympic silver medallist Steve Cram.
On the other hand, French sports
stars were rocked Wednesday by the shock victory for London, but urged organisers of the failed bid and the French people to accept the decision.
Judo legend David Douillet, a four-time heavyweight world champion who won two Olympic golds (1996, 2000) and one bronze (1992), tried to take positives out of the failed Paris bid.
"I think the big lesson we can draw from this during the years of preparation is the popular support for a common project.
"Now, we have to know how to lose in dignity. We have to accept it," Douillet said, suggesting that the London bid team had perhaps crossed the line in their wooing of IOC members.
Guy Forget, the captain of France's Davis Cup tennis team, told RMC Radio: "I am terribly disappointed. I believed in it (the Paris bid) 200 per cent. I was convinced we were going to win... but there are parameters you can't control. Bravo to London."
Didier Deschamps, Monaco coach and World Cup winner as a player and captain of the French football team, added: "You just have to accept it, that's the Olympic way: fair play."
From the world of athletics, sprinter Christine Arron called the IOC vote "disgusting".
"I was motivated to go on until 2012 if it was Paris. I could have run the relay at 39 years of age. Now it's finished," said Arron, the European 100m record holder with 10.73sec and gold medal winner in the 4x100m relay in the 2003 world championships, held in Paris.