Fireworks fill the sky after the Olympic torch is raised during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in LondonLONDON – The Olympic finishing line is almost in sight. With just a few events to go, athletes and Londoners alike are set for the mother-of-all celebrations – a weekend of gold-medal parties and a pop-tastic closing ceremony.
It’s about time, say some social observers, who claim that London’s party scene has been muted during the games, dragged down by economic recession and a downturn in central London businesses as a result of the games further east.
Britain’s economic gloom means nightclubs and pop-up venues have had to work to lure athletes and celebrities. But they are giving thanks for Olympic swimmers, whose events ended last weekend, leaving them free to party.
The paparazzi were also thankful, filling newspaper pages with party-hardy Olympians.
U.S. champion Michael Phelps – who ended his Olympic career with 22 medals, 18 of them gold- has been spotted in London’s Soho nightlife district.