Becks and a double-decker lead the handover ceremony

Beckham, 33, will be the main star of the ceremony, which will see the Olympic flag handed to London for the 2012 Olympics.

He will appear alongside singer Leona Lewis, Led Zeppelin guitar legend Jimmy Page and Mayor Boris Johnson in the ceremony at the end of the Beijing Games on Sunday.

The former England captain will be driven into China's national stadium on a London double-deck bus. He will then kick footballs to children representing every Olympic nation during the stadium spectacular to be broadcast to millions worldwide. Beckham was a crucial member of the London bid team who travelled to Singapore with former prime minister Tony Blair in 2005 to help the capital clinch the 2012 Olympics.

The LA Galaxy and former Manchester United player is hugely popular in the Far East and is sure of an ecstatic welcome from the 91,000-strong crowd.

Beckham's appearance will be followed by a duet between Lewis, 23, and Page, 64, before hip hop dancers and ballerinas complete London's £ 2 million, eight-minute contribution to the finale.

Shows in Trafalgar Square and street parties in 10 other cities including Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester will be staged. A Beijing source said: "David Beckham is known across the globe but probably has more fans in the Far East than anywhere else. He is the perfect star to bridge the gap between East and West as the games are handed to London. He has become the talk of the Olympics and there are hundreds of representatives from Olympic committees across the world who want to shake his hand and get his autograph.

"Big British names like Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis will be perfect for the show as we start to show the world the best of British. It promises to be a night to remember."

The Mayor is set to be caught up in the pro-Tibet protests when he arrives in the Olympic city.

Demonstrators are threatening to disrupt the visit by Mr Johnson and his London 2012 entourage, who will carry the Olympic flag home. Meanwhile swimmer Michael Phelps, winner of a record eight Olympic gold medals, announced he will be visiting London on his way home from China.

He will be in the Mall this Sunday as part of the Visa London 2012 Party to celebrate the handover of the games.

He is also set to appear on stage to discuss his performances.