International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge has announced that London will host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The news was greeted with huge cheers as thousands of people packed into Trafalgar Square to watch the result live on giant video screens.

Heather Small kick-started the party with a live performance of the bid anthem "Proud," backed by singers from London community choirs.And a spectacular flypast by the Red Arrows left a trail of red, white and blue above the crowds in central London.

London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe said, "This is just the most fantastic opportunity to do everything we ever dreamed of in British sport. We have a chance over seven years and way beyond that to change the face of British sport."

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, added, "This is amazing. When we started out, it was a mountain to climb, but we've had an incredible few days here. What came over in our presentation was giving kids the chance--it's not just about cities. We spent a lot of time before formally submitting our bid preparing things, and we will start work on that tomorrow. We'll give the world the best Games they've ever seen."

And Culture Minister Tessa Jowell, who will take up the post of Olympics Minister in the Government, admitted, "I've been shaking for the past two hours. This is the biggest prize sport can bestow and we won it for London, and this is to unlock the ambition of children. Sport will now be central to government policy."~~~