Some of Britain’s greatest Olympians will take part in the closing stages of the opening ceremony tomorrow, it was revealed today.

British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Hunt said the decision on who will light the flame had been unanimous - but it will not be revealed until the moment the cauldron is lit on Friday night.

Hunt was part of the group that made the decision along with the heads of the London 2012 organising committee and opening ceremony director Danny Boyle.

He 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.”

BOA chairman Colin Moynihan is known to favour Sir Steve Redgrave to light the flame but he insisted he had no knowledge of the decision.

Moynihan said: “I hope Steve Redgrave plays a very significant part tomorrow evening - I think he is one of the greatest Olympians alive and a phenomenal athlete.

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