After 16 days of 26 sports and 302 events the London 2012 Olympic Games have finally close.

London hosted about 10,000 athletes during the Games.

The closing ceremony featured some of the biggest names of British pop including the Spice Girls, George Michael and Elbow, and the official Games flag was handed to the mayor of Rio before the flame at the Olympic Stadium was extinguished.

Games chief Lord Sebastian Coe was grateful for the support London received when she bid to host the games and was equally happy that Britain lit up the world with a successful event.

Meanwhile, the president of the International Olympic Committee Jacque Rogue who just supervised the final Games of his 12-year tenure said, London had delivered on the promises it made when he announced the city had won the Games in July 2005.

The Games ended with the U.S topping the medal table with 46 golds, followed by China with 38 .

Great Britain came third with 29 golds - their best tally since 1908.

In all, 44 world records have been set during London 2012, and 117 Olympic records broken.

GBC