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Exclusive: David Beckham and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page to close Beijing Olympics
By Laurie Hanna - 14/08/2008
David Beckham will star at the Olympics closing ceremony in Beijing as the handover to London 2012 gets under way.
The spectacular event on August 24 will also see Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page performing a duet with pop star Leona Lewis.
And an incredible finale will feature Becks, 33, arriving on top of one of London's iconic red double-decker buses - before he kicks a football into the crowd to celebrate.
Hundreds of dancers from the UK will then perform ballet and break-dancing routines as the countdown to 2012 begins.
An insider said: "It is set to be one of the most mind-blowing spectacles ever. David was elated to be asked to take part, as was everyone who has been invited.
"Having a rock god like Jimmy Page and a singer like Leona Lewis performing together for the first time will certainly be something to remember.
"The amount of planning is staggering. It will be truly momentous - and a fitting send-off as London takes up the 2012 challenge."
At the end of each Olympics, the next host puts on an eight-minute show. Organisers had already confirmed that dancers from urban group ZooNation will be joined by performers from the Royal Ballet and CandoCo, a disabled dance company.
The cost for the segment, and a similar one held at the end of the Paralympic Games, will be up to £2million.
The source added: "The performers are the best of British and that is what 2012 will be all about."
By Laurie Hanna - 14/08/2008
David Beckham will star at the Olympics closing ceremony in Beijing as the handover to London 2012 gets under way.
The spectacular event on August 24 will also see Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page performing a duet with pop star Leona Lewis.
And an incredible finale will feature Becks, 33, arriving on top of one of London's iconic red double-decker buses - before he kicks a football into the crowd to celebrate.
Hundreds of dancers from the UK will then perform ballet and break-dancing routines as the countdown to 2012 begins.
An insider said: "It is set to be one of the most mind-blowing spectacles ever. David was elated to be asked to take part, as was everyone who has been invited.
"Having a rock god like Jimmy Page and a singer like Leona Lewis performing together for the first time will certainly be something to remember.
"The amount of planning is staggering. It will be truly momentous - and a fitting send-off as London takes up the 2012 challenge."
At the end of each Olympics, the next host puts on an eight-minute show. Organisers had already confirmed that dancers from urban group ZooNation will be joined by performers from the Royal Ballet and CandoCo, a disabled dance company.
The cost for the segment, and a similar one held at the end of the Paralympic Games, will be up to £2million.
The source added: "The performers are the best of British and that is what 2012 will be all about."
