London 2012 was ultimately a considerable success, with the concerns over security following G4S' admission that they had not recruited enough personnel for the Games proving only a temporary blip.

The only other major concern London 2012 faced was over tickets, as it came in for criticism following hordes of empty seats being visible in the opening days of the Games.

That aside, the Games went to plan – even the transport system, which had caused so many concerns, ran uncharacteristically smoothly.

"These London Olympics have been a moment where we saw ourselves in a new light, where we can pull off huge projects on time and under budget," Johnson (pictured above) said of the sporting extravaganza.

"[We have] moved huge numbers around the city and kept them safe, holding the greatest show on earth."

One of the reasons London 2012 has been such a success is down to the performance of the home athletes, who exceeded expectations and won 29 gold medals, 17 silver and 19 bronze.

Sir Chris Hoy won gold in the cycling team sprint and the keirin at London 2012 making him Britain's most decorated Olympian, with a total of seven Olympic medals, six of which are gold

"The crowning achievement of the whole effort, a truly astonishing effort by Team GB," Johnson said.

"This is a moment to recognise that we have almost completed an incredible project that has exposed and unleashed the very best of this country.

"I do not want to spend any time gloating about the Olympo-sceptics and all those who got it so wrong," Johnson added in his usual effervescent way.

He then took a moment to cause some impromptu controversy by claiming schoolchildren should do two hours sport a day as part of the legacy of the Games, in response to the Government's decision to scrap the requirement to do just two hours a week, before moving back to matters London 2012.

"I know that everybody who has worked on these Games is thinking of them as the biggest and best thing we have been involved with in our city," Johnson said.

And although few, including Johnson himself, probably believe it is possible, the London Mayor could not resist quipping: "Why not [host] the Olympics again?

"We have made an unanswerable case to host the Olympics again in the next 20 years in London."

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