Australians concede London Games topped Sydney

Australians gave London a mighty tick of approval on Monday, conceding the English capital put on a better show than Sydney in 2000.

“It’s one thing for the British to thrash Australia in the medals table of the London Olympics but now the games are over it’s just as clear they have knocked Sydney off its pedestal as the best host of a modern Olympic games,” The Australian newspaper editorialised.

“As awful as it is to admit, London 2012 was bigger, slicker, almost as friendly and more thoughtfully planned than Sydney in terms of the legacy it will leave the host city.”

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph was equally gushing: “I salute you London. These games were even better than our own in Sydney,” the paper declared.