Cameron: Opening ceremony will be 'spine-tingling'

The identity of the person who lights the flame will remain secret up until the final moment, but it was confirmed that some of Britain’s greatest Olympians will take part in the closing stages of the ceremony.

These will include five-time rowing gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave and two-time decathlon champion Daley Thompson, although neither is expected to light the flame.

At least one bookmaker stopped taking bets on Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four-minute mile, but it may be that the honour is shared between a legendary sporting figure and someone else who is symbolic of London’s ambition to inspire an international generation of youth.

Athletes from across the world will parade, and the Queen will declare the Games open. London 2012 organisers predict four billion people will watch on television, while tens of thousands will see the event live inside the stadium.

Organisers have released a preview clip of the ceremony, which is being directed by Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry, showing dozens of hospital beds and nurses: a celebration of Britain’s National Health Service.

The country’s position as Cool Britannia also has a major role in the ceremony through pop music, although its classical musical heritage is not forgotten.

Britain’s industrial heritage is celebrated, as well as a rural view of a green and pleasant land.

Is it Beefeaters or Blur? – or so the Prime Minister was asked yesterday.

“Well it’s both,” replied Mr Cameron. “I have had some presentations and meetings with Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry and others and every time I have seen them I have always felt that tingling feeling on my spine and hair standing up on the back of my neck.

“The truth is we have to celebrate all that is great about the past but also all the potential Britain has in the future.

“I would have thought the difficulty is how do you cram in all that is great about our country whether it is sport, art, literature, history, contribution to world events.

“I’m confident they have done a good job and there were one or two moments I was really moved by. There’s something for everyone.”

David Beckham, the former England football captain who was part of London’s bid team in Singapore seven years ago, is also expected to be one of the final torchbearers as the relay comes to an end inside the stadium.

British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Hunt, who was part of the group that made the decision about who would light the flame, said the choice had been unanimous.

Hunt said: “I’m really pleased and very comfortable that some of our truly great Olympians are going to be honoured through that whole end sequence.”