2012 ceremony chiefs set
Take That's tour mastermind Kim Gavin will direct the London 2012 closing ceremony, joining opening ceremony chief Danny Boyle.
By Paul Higham Twitter - @SkySportsPaulH
Last Updated: 18/02/11 11:13am
Officials have announced that Kim Gavin will take charge of the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics, joining opening ceremony chief Danny Boyle.
Oscar-winning director Boyle is the artist director of the opening ceremony for London 2012, and his opposite number has now been revealed as Gavin - the man behind Take That's record-breaking Circus Tour of 2009.
The two men are charged with the task of following in the footsteps of Beijing's huge opening and closing ceremonies.
Gavin is joined by costume designer Es Devlin, who has worked with Lady Gaga, Muse and Kanye West, while Grammy award-winning producer David Arnold will be the musical director having worked on James Bond films including Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
"Me and the guys are thrilled that Kim has been asked to create the closing ceremony," said take That's Gary Barlow of Gavin's appointment.
"We know with him in charge it's going to be one great celebration for the whole country. We're very proud of our live shows and Kim has always been at the very heart of their creation.
"We wish him all the success in the world and before you ask, no, he hasn't asked us to be in the show - yet!"
Ceremonies
Gavin will take charge of the closing ceremonies for both the Olympics and Paralympics in London, and says it will be the pinnacle of his career.
"When I started choreography and directing, it was back in the Eighties. Things have got bigger," he said. "Now the ultimate prize (London 2012) is today. It is something that is a bit of a challenge and is also a blank page. It is very exciting.
"I have no misgivings about how big a task it is. I realise the scale of it."
The handover in Beijing involved David Beckham, Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page, but Gavin was not giving any clues as to what stars would be on show in London.
"I am not starting there," Gavin added. "I am starting with the vision and the show. I am starting with the type of music and the colour and how we can work that in the stadium.
"At the moment I have no hard and fast person that needs to be in the stadium but I have a song or two - and no I can not tell you the songs.
"I want it to be inclusive. I think that the vision will come. I think we can use kids and youth. I want it to be surprising. I want it to be colourful."
Oscar winner
Gavin and Boyle, the Oscar-winning director of Slumdog Millionaire, have not yet met but will be in talks soon to make sure they do not duplicate any ideas and that the opening and closing ceremonies flow together.
A whopping budget of £40 million has been set for all four opening and closing ceremonies on the Olympics and Paralympics, which will be allocated as ideas are formed.
Boyle has appointed architect Thomas Heatherwick to design the Olympic Cauldron, which is always remembered as a focal point for each Games.
Both men will have the eyes of the world on their work next year, when they need to produce a show not only fit for the 80,000 in attendance at the Olympic Stadium, but also the millions around the world who will be tuning in to one of the biggest events on the planet.
