BEIJING (Reuters) - David Beckham will take centre stage when the Olympic flag is handed to London at Sunday's closing ceremony in Beijing.
Beckham, whose popularity in China dwarfs that of even record-breaking swimmer Michael Phelps or sprint sensation Usain Bolt, will take part in London 2012's eight-minute slot in the Games finale designed to showcase the next host city.
The Los Angeles Galaxy player will be joined in the Bird's Nest stadium by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and London-born singer Leona Lewis as well as dancers from the Royal Opera House and numerous sportsmen and women from previous Olympic Games.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is attending the closing ceremony which will see new London Mayor Boris Johnson receive the flag from his Beijing counterpart, Guo Jinlong.
No details were revealed about the content of the show or exactly what Beckham's role would be but his appearance is likely to get the biggest cheer of the night.
"He has been passionate about the bid from the early stages, he played a key role in Singapore and he was brought up within a stone's throw of the Olympic Park in London," Bill Morris, the London Organising Committee (LOCOG's) director of ceremonies, told reporters on Friday when confirming the A-list line-up.
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder Beckham, who has a Chinese proverb tattooed on his torso, was mobbed when he arrived in Shanghai with La Galaxy this year and has a fanbase in China running into hundreds of millions.
Morris said the theme of the London slot would be simple and fun and would not be trying to compete with anything Beijing managed during a sparkling opening ceremony.
"This is not the moment we want to try and compete with the truly astonishing job BOCOG did with their ceremonies," Morris said, referring to the Beijing organisers. "But it will be youthful, diverse, loud and proud.
"It's also great opportunity to celebrate the outstanding success of the British team in these Games."
Mayor Johnson joked that he had been in training for his big "flag-carrying moment".
"I am thrilled, I'm overwhelmed, I'm incredibly excited but I'm not intimidated," he said.
(Editing by Nick Macfie)
Comment 32 - 51 of 51
Both are more than merited for entertainment. They both have made the best of their lives which is fanstastic. Leona previously in an office- well, all the best to her- and her magical voice. Bekham for his magical football. David Beckham- well we all know and admire for his sport. Both are admirable. Really fantastic. No questions that we all admire all this.
But- what has this got to do this sportmanship for the olympics?
If this is what GB has to offer as the best representation of its country- although I really admire what both of these young people have done- what about all those who work
extreemly hard outside media hype. What of those who really work hard to educate, or those work hard to become scientists, cleaners who works so hard to nourish their families, or builders (all EU nationalities), or ................ Unless we are telivized then apparently we are not worthy of representing our country- is that it ?
Allow someone who lives in and is well respected over the whole of Britian not just England as not everyone is a Football fan and what has Beckham got that some of the medal winners have not got. He has not got a medal for his country (and I mean GB.not England)
agree about beckham should be a winner not a loser who has sold what little talent he has to the states but our team has done well so we should get behind them.
Seems like Becks is always up in everything! This is clearly a PR stunt Becks as nothing to do with the olympics he probably doesn't even know any of the members of the GB team. This just makes me laugh after all the hard work the GB athletes have put in over the years they now give it to an overpaid footballer who still struggles to talk sense. If I was in the GB team I would't be happy. But is all about politricks. Got to hand it to Becks you sure know how to promote yourself.
A has-been footballer who doesn't live in Britain and a talent show winner? China paraded 2000 years of history for us - and all we can do to return the compliment is turn up with mediocre celebrities.
Beckhams PR agent should have got a gold for hype and our organisers the wooden spoon. Shameful and embarassing.
so D.B.went abroad to earn more money. at least he has talent and still comes home to represent his country loads of people go abroad every year to saudi, germany holland thailand etc and do not forget the talentless ones i.e.tom jones humperdink and others like burly shassey carry grant et.el who only ever came back when their career was fading or to collect a gong
I was totally amazed to see the Chinese showing the might of their army,proudly goose-stepping round the place with their flags at the opening ceremony - or was it outside the stadium? (The opening ceremony was so drawn out even before the worlds contestants paraded around the arena for 2 hours)Everything started to blur and I kinda lost track!
We of this "septic" Isle are apparently not so proud of our armed services - or is this just one more ridiculous "un-pc" ban?
I refer to the descision not to allow our famous aerobatic team - the RAF Red Arrows to display at the openimg of the London olympics in 2012! The reasoning behind this, is that it might be seen as a threatening gesture to other countries - a rattling of sabres! What is to replace the majesty of such a display? Will it be balloons? Will it be everyone waving a candle, or is it something this loony government has yet to dream up? I am not a racist, in fact I have many friends from many nations, but in this instance, if the games were to be held in a place other than London, wouldn't the hosts WANT to show off THEIR assets, military or otherwise. Who are the morons responsible for this PC ruling? (And I thought Maggie Thatcher had stamped out the pointless useless "quango's" years ago!) This is OUR country, and I'm sure all our new immigrants would not wish it to be any other way. To ban the "Arrows" is surely one of the stupidest rulings so far,especially given what the Russians, showing off at the games are currently up to in Georgia.
The Olympics are about sport. Leave stupid politics out of it. Many families were thrown out of their homes and left in the gutter to make room for the Bejing games, yet WE still went there to compete, despite that attrocity.What crime have the RED ARROWS committed that they are to be banned from displaying at what is arguably, the biggest waste of money since Blair's Dome, wonky bridge, and damp-squib of a "river of fire" on the Eve of the new century.
David Beckham has proved over and over again that he is worthy not only of a place in the England team but a place in the history books. He is a lovely, caring family man and I for one am very proud to support him all the way to Bejing!!!
P.Lloyd
David Beckham is ace and I think he is one of the only current footballers to genuine feel pride in wearing an England shirt, BUT he should not be there. What message is this ridiculous decision sending out to our athletes...go and win loads of golds but we'll wheel D.B out for the glory! It's soo showbiz and tacky!
David Beckham has proved over and over again that he is worthy not only of a place in the England team but a place in the history books. He is a lovely, caring family man and I for one am very proud to support him all the way to Bejing!!!
WTF the reason Beckham is centre stage is because he is the reason we managed to get the Olympics. We in this country dont love David like the rest of the world does, i dont know the reasons why . Apart from the fact that he has over 100 caps for his country, played for the two best clubs on the planet and is basically the highest paid football player worldwide but hes in the MLS, has football academies,does lots of charity work, is the first to make appeals to the public about strong issues (Madeleine & knife crime), and also he has a really clean character. To me he seems like the perfect person especially with his world wide popularity.
i agree on the comment made by nearly all of you why should beckham be there ?? its a load of sxxxx redgrave should be the one are dame kelly holmes well done the gb team xxxx
David Beckham has proved himself over the years to be an outstanding sportsman, who committed himself mind and body to the gift he was given, I'm not a football fan but I do appreciate that he put as much effort into his sport as any of the athletes during these games. So why shouldn't he stand there during the closing ceremony? proud to be British and proud of the Olympians who have made for in my opinion the best games ever. And what better ambassador for sport than, arguably the most prolific sportsman of all time?
y dont all us brits stick together and stop slaging off are best stop being so pety thats y somany leave lets get behind are best not slag them off
Having watched a fantastic well organised Olympics in Bejing and really enjoyed it. I find myself thinking where will we be holding the Beach Volleyball, where will we be holding the canoeing, etc. I believe that we are going to build all these facilities in and around London, then they are all going to be demolished to make way for yet more expensive housing. I do hope that when we host the games in 2012, we will spend enough to make us proud to British and have all the style and pageant that this country is known for. I dont want to see a load of illegal immegrants being represented or chavs paraded out of the council estates. I dont want to see all the B and C list celebs getting in on the act, its just trashy. I feel we are in for a major FALL FLAT ON OUR FACES.
Why is Beckham allowed to be centre stage in Beijing when the England football team have not even entered the Olympic Games?
England Footballers were not good enough for the European Cup and therefore do not deserve to be there. If a footballer was meant to be in Beijing at least a Scottish/Iris/Welsh footballer would have be more appropriate as they at least tried their best to play for the European Cup.
I am from England & ashamed of the England football team.
As a South African i cannot believe the comments i am reading - what is the matter with you Brits? Team GB has performed brilliantly; Becks is more British than bacon and eggs! what is the problem with him being part of the GB transition team? The guy is a legend just like his mate; Jimmy Page; can't say the same for Leona, but so what, she has an awsome singing voice and the looks to match un like the stunt the curent Olympic hosts pulled
As for the comment by "David B" on entry number 31; you must be the biggest @#$% that has ever submitted a comment; if your intention was to be voted for the most pathetic comment ever placed, guess what? you have won the "Gold Medal!!!" go back to your slime pit
It would not have surprised me in the least. If they had Clarence Mitchell doing centre spot
Sure the opening and closing celebration is nice, but is that what the Games is all about? Is it just games or is it the Olympics? I think we shouldn't spend much on the celebrations, make it meaningful, fun but keep it simple. Maybe though we can engage all the illegal to volunteer for free and teach them to toot on a thousand bag pipes? But hey, use the queen’s horse guard to strut their stuff, have her majesty ride in, in her coach waving and we'll do just fine. Since we're a country that invented a host of games, but seem to loose them all, incorporate that theme. And yes, have David Beckem do something, only cause he's so well known.
I adopted England as my second home, as my husband and children are English. As a foreigner settled here, I am proud of living in this Country and proud that this is my childrens home land. Someone said that its sad that British Culture is not what it used to be and there might be some truth in it. However, being Celebrity or being Tea and Double Decker buses, Britain has always found the way to be notorious and to stand out as one of the most exciting places in the world... and that surely is something to be happy about!
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