Beijing's Olympic legacy

Great meeting with the Vice Mayor of Beijing Chen Gang, who handled all the construction for their Olympics.

I'm impressed how the city is already moving beyond the Games to ensure the site has a legacy. Chen Gang told me about a science museum and art gallery that will be opened in their park.

The athletes' apartments - praised by their occupants over the last few weeks - are all set to be sold off. Many of the venues are already tied to universities and students will soon enjoy them.

I'm told of other potentially lasting benefits to this city, like the traffic-reducing measures put in place for the Games. Locals have got used to only driving their cars on alternate days, according to whether their registration plate ends in an odd or even number. The scheme's due to end tomorrow but there's widespread public support for keeping it and the Mayor of Beijing is very tempted.

Air quality was vastly improved by the closure of dozens of factories before the Games and friends tell me most of those will not re-open.

The trick for us is to build on the good relationship between London and Beijing in the aftermath of these Games. That's why I've just had lunch at Beijing Zoo, which wants closer collaboration with London Zoo. In time, sharing expertise could lead to exchanging staff and some animals, as well as pooling resources to conserve habitats and protect endangered species.

Had the joy of feeding an otter and baby panda before being handsomely fed myself.

Big day in Beijing.

Olympics minister - Tessa Jowell - is celebrating her birthday. Just handed her a large bunch of roses and a chocolate mousse cake. Also picked up a new suit from a Chinese tailor for my big moment tonight. Don't want any suggestions that I'm scruffy this time when I wave the flag.

Met some of the athletes for lunch. Exceptional people. All seemed pleased with the facilities here - particularly the athetes village. Considering the high demands on them their own requirements seem modest - good food, effective transport and comfortable accomodation.

This will be my second Olympic performance, but taking no chances. Just had a full dress rehearsal in the Bird's Nest stadium. Pretty straightforward without an audience but I know it'll feel very different when I take the flag for real tonight.

An unexpected cure for jetlag

Just found the cure for jetlag. It's wheelchair basketball. An overnight flight and a string of high level meetings was taking its toll when I managed to squeeze in to observe a fierce battle between the Paralympics GB team and the USA. Rarely do you see such dexterity, versatility and aggression on such open display. As a former rugby player I watched in awe.

I also noticed the venue was bursting with spectators - many of them youngsters in yellow polo shirts having the time of their life. Some of the lessons I took from the games in August have clearly already been taken on by Beijing.

The atmosphere is more relaxed and easy going. They have worked out ways of filling empty seats. And hanging around in the park has become an attractive option for thousands here. If they can learn that quickly we must surely be capable of an awesome Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012.

Back in Beijing for the Paralympics

The flags look similar. But the posters have changed. Giant murals are now draped from mid-sized skyscrapers in Central Beijing, heralding a new generation of sporting heroes.

I smile as I spot a ping pong bat, then slide my gaze down the wall to the wheelchair. You could easily overlook it and it's hard to think of the elite athlete drawing my attention as disabled. It's a similar story in the papers and on the TV. The images are iconic, heroic, cool, and cutting edge - not the first words that you associate with public images of disabled people in China, the UK - or most of the world, to be honest.

These Games, I'm told, have transformed perceptions of Paralympians in China and the authorities have used the opportunity to invest in major practical improvements for them too. Every underground station, for instance, is now officially accessible. I have high hopes for London in 2012 but I realise there's a huge challenge too if we're to build on the achievements of Beijing.