大象传媒

London 2012 officials have lost the element of surprise for their eight-minute show at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

I understand that reports that David Beckham and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and pop star Leona Lewis will take part are correct.

Beckham will appear on the top of one of London's red double-decker buses and kick a football into the crowd when London gets a chance to tell the world what the next Games will be like.

It's been rumoured for some time that Beckham - who in 2005 was in Singapore as part of the bid team when London won the 2012 vote - would take part but are disappointed that the news has leaked out more than a week before the ceremony on Sunday August 24 (1300-1600 BST).

Olympic officials will also be concerned that it has not been possible to keep the ceremony secret.

In 2012, the International Olympic Committee will want London to keep more of their surprises for the opening ceremony under tighter guard.

The segment will also feature hundreds of dancers performing ballet and break-dancing routines.

The performers from London urban dance group , the Royal Ballet and Candoco, a disabled dance company, are already in Beijing rehearsing.

In fact they are staying in my hotel and return back late at night looking pretty tired.
All of them had been told to talk to nobody about the plans for the ceremony, which will be shown in the UK .

One thing is certain. The London segment will be in stark contrast to the Chinese goodbye. It is also said to contain quite a lot of humour.

London 2012 are not laughing, however, about the fact the world already knows what's coming.