Burnham said: "I hope the sceptics will pick up their tents and disappear for a few months, if not a few years now, becuase quite clearly the country wants to see this kind of success [Britain's 19 gold medals] and they want to see Britain hosting the Olympic Games.

 

"That would be a very nice legacy of this moment."

 

Burnham echoed the sentiments of Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, that Britain will not try to compete with Beijing, which had a budget of £20 billion to stage the Games.

 

Speaking at a party at London House in Beijing organised by Mayor Boris Johnson, he said: "Organisationally they have done a superb job, no-one can question that.

 

"The scale of these Games is absolutely huge.

 

"[But] we will do it differently.

 

"I want to see a celebration right round the country.

 

"I want it to be a celebration of Britain's culture, not just sport.

 

"So we are going to have a great four years."