London 2012 Olympics: Ben Ainslie to hoist flag in closing ceremony

The 35-year-old won his fourth gold medal at consecutive Games when he triumphed in the Finn class. He won silver in his first Olympics as a 19-year-old in Atlanta in 1996.

Ainslie, who has said he is unlikely to compete in the Olympics again, was chosen by the British Olympic Association’s team leaders to be the flagbearer.

The closing ceremony has been billed as the world’s greatest after-show party, bringing the curtain down on the London 2012 Olympic Games with an extravaganza that has been described as “A Symphony of British Music”.

Organisers have been tight-lipped about details but big-name performers such as George Michael, the Spice Girls, Scotland’s Annie Lennox and even the reclusive Kate Bush are all expected to appear alongside British comedy favourites including Eric Idle, David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, and a parade of British supermodels including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Stella Tennant in a two-and-a-half hour show which is likely to end with fireworks.

David Arnold, the ceremony’s musical director and a composer who has written music for Bond films and the hit BBC show Sherlock, said that the Olympic event would be based around 30 classic pieces of British music.

“If the Opening Ceremony was the wedding, then we’re the wedding reception,” he said. “We’re the one where everyone gets out of their cars at the village hall, goes ‘Wasn’t that lovely, everyone looked great, let’s put on Blame It On the Boogie and have a laugh’.”

On Friday, all five Spice Girls were spotted at a Ford car plant in Dagenham, east London, rehearsing on top of what looked like full-sized black hackney cabs covered in LED lights. Although there has been no official comment on whether the band will reunite for tonight’s performance, it seems likely the five, who have not performed together since their truncated 2008 world tour, will appear.

Other stars spotted at rehearsals on Friday included Brian May of Queen, the Pet Shop Boys, Jessie J, Lennox, Tinie Tempah and George Michael – one of the few to confirm his attendance.

The closing ceremony is also expected to feature models of London landmarks including Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Eighties ska band Madness have also confirmed their appearance in the show, as have rock band Muse and Brit award-winning singer songwriter Ed Sheeran. The parade of supermodels is expected to be led by Kate Moss, while Jason and Lyndhurst are rumoured to be making an appearance in their Batman and Robin costumes in a nod to their classic sitcom Only Fools And Horses.

Anticipation has been high surrounding the closing ceremony after Danny Boyle’s  £28 million opening event dazzled audiences around the world with its brilliant, and at times bizarre, realisation, which featured British stars ranging from JK Rowling to Dizzee Rascal.

“It needs to be something where everyone, including the athletes, is going to be able to let off steam,” said Arnold.

“There are seven-and-a-half thousand of them there, so it’s a show for them all to get involved with, and hopefully it will wrap up the spirit of what these Games have been, which is slightly anarchic, slightly mischievous, funny, heart-warming, emotional, inspiring, and uniquely British.”

Take That had also been expected to perform but their appearance was cast into doubt after singer Gary Barlow’s daughter Poppy was stillborn last week.