The Becks factor: David to join X Factor star Leona Lewis in Beijing closing show
David Beckham and X Factor winner Leona Lewis are among stars being lined up to feature in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
The 'handover' performance will mark the point when the next games are officially passed on to London for 2012.
The X factor: David Beckham seen here with Los Angeles Lakers' star Didier Mbenga, will star in the closing ceremony at the Beijing Olympics
A central feature of the eight-minute spectacle in Beijing's 90,000-seater Olympic stadium will be a Routemaster bus on loan from Transport for London.
Leyton-born Beckham will jump off the bus for a kickabout with children representing every country in the world.
At the next stop in the arena, Lewis, from Hackney, who won the 2006 X Factor show, will perform one of her hits.
The production will culminate in Boris Johnson receiving the Olympic flag from his Beijing counterpart.
Leona will join football superstar David Beckham to perform at the controversial Beijing Olympics
The Mayor has admitted practising every day to ensure he does not make a mistake at the ceremony - where he has to wave the six-metre flag back and forth eight times.
He told business leaders that 'with an audience of three billion people watching, it would be rather embarrassing to drop it'. The flag is expected to be exhibited at City Hall.
Organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe today defended the decision to have 'hoodie' dancers perform at the Beijing ceremony.
Hip hop dance troupe Zoo Nation is famous for the West End show In The Hoods, which features a drug-dealing pimp.
Speaking on LBC this morning, Lord Coe said: 'It's not all about hoodies, it's contemporary dance. Let's not get carried away my kids wear hoodies at the weekend.
'Dance is very much a part of the culture in London, so don't get the idea that this is a sort of Asbo world.
'This is actually quite a serious contribution to the cultural fabric of the city.'
