Rogge also acknowledged Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt as a "living legend" after his treble success in London replicated his success of Beijing four years ago.

"There are so many things, I have not one favourite moment," Rogge said when asked at a news conference what it might be.

"If I would have to take one, not emotion, but a sentimental one, that would be the tears of Chris Hoy. I think that's one of the defining moments of the Games."

Hoy wept after clinching his sixth Olympic cycling gold medal, in the keirin, last Tuesday, to ensure Britain matched their Beijing record of seven track titles. Rogge said many athletes had managed to write Olympic history in London, including US swimmer Michael Phelps, who became the most decorated Olympian ever, and Britain's Ben Ainslie, who became the most successful Games sailor ever.

He also picked out Italian fencer Valentina Vezzali for racking up a sixth gold and Andy Murray for winning his first big tennis title.

"I could go on , but the marathon finishes in two hours so therefore I will shorten my speech," he said.

Rogge also mentioned the "magic stride" of Kenya's David Rudisha who easily won the 800m in world-record time, saying: "This was beauty in action."

Rogge finally accepted Bolt as a "living legend", having appeared reluctant to do so earlier.

The sprinter won an unprecedented 100m-200m double at two consecutive Olympics, and anchored the Jamaican 4x100m relay team, in the world-record defence of their Beijing title.

Rogge had suggested Bolt's career could be judged only when it was over, comparing it with that of American Carl Lewis who competed in four consecutive Games.

"Your question about a legend is a very semantic one," he said when asked what else Bolt had to do to become a living legend.

"Let me finalise the issue as follows: Usain Bolt is an active-performance legend, he's an icon, he's the best sprinter of all time. I think that is a good qualification."