Paul McCartney Confirms Performance at 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony

Photos: Paul McCartney Confirms Performance at 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony

By IBTimes Staff Reporter | Jun 05, 2012 07:25 PM EDT

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has officially confirmed that he will be performing at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, according to a UKPA (United Kingdom Press Association) report.

There has been intense speculation over whether McCartney would perform at the opening ceremony of the London games or not. The left-handed bassist and singer had revealed in January that he was having talks with the 2012 Olympics organisers regarding this.

"I've been booked," he told BBC Radio 5 Live Drive, ending all speculation, according to Contact Music.com.

The 70-year-old singer/songwriter, who admits "on certain occasions" he still gets nervous before performing, says that he will be "closing the opening" ceremony of the 2012 London Games.

A staggering four billion viewers are estimated to watch 15,000 performers taking part in the 2012 London Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

However, the full schedule of the 2012 London Games opening ceremony on 27 July is yet to be announced. The event will include a parade by all contesting nations along with the famous Olympic flame that will ignite the cauldron to signal the start of the 2012 London games.

Apart from McCartney, the 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony will be headlined by the 1980's outfit Duran Duran, who will be representing England.

On the other hand, Artists including Snow Patrol, Stereophonics and Paolo Nutini will be representing Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland respectively.

Meanwhile, Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle will be taking charge of the opening ceremony, which is reportedly inspired by the theme Isles of Wonder.

The whole set, which is estimated to cost around cost £27 million (nearly one third of the total Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies budget of £81 million), will reportedly start with the tolling of a huge bell (weighing 27 tonnes), which will carry the inscription "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises" (a dialogue by Caliban in William Shakespeare's play The Tempest.)

The opening ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 9 pm, will probably last for over three hours. However, the organisers will be wanting to end the programme by 12:30 am so that people can get public transport to go back home.

"We are trying to capture a sense of humour. With the NHS we got an idea and then tried to make sense of it. Why not nurses and children and connect the two together? I daren't say anymore because I've been told not to," The Telegraph quoted Boyle as saying.