Michael Kovac, Tim Whitby/Getty Images; RICHARD YOUNG/REX/Startraksphoto.comUPDATE: Information about the closing ceremonies is coming in fast and furious. So what else have we found out?
For starters, the festivities are titled "A Symphony of British Music" and is expected to be a confab of Britain's greatest tunesmiths. In other words, consider it U.K.'s greatest hits—Olympics edition!
A slew of other chart-topping artists and bands are rumored to be in the mix, although no confirmations have officially been made. According to The Hollywood Reporter, though, those names could include Adele, the Rolling Stones, George Michael and the Pet Shop Boys. Fact or fiction? We'll just have to wait and see on Sunday.
As for the event's logistics, the closing ceremony's musical director, film composer David Arnold, chatted extensively with The Telegraph and spilled some deets about what else we can expect.
"To me, this should be the greatest after-party in the world," he told the paper. "If the Opening Ceremony was the wedding, then we're the wedding reception."
And what a reception it'll be: The shindig will take place across the Olympic Stadium and feature sets constructed especially for the festivities. Expect those sets to be eye-popping: They're being created by Es Devlin, who's designed sets for the likes of Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
Choreography, meanwhile, will come courtesy of Kim Gavin, who's worked with—whaddaya know?—Take That.
The closing ceremony will also be huge, reportedly featuring more than 4,100 performers, whose volunteers comprise about 3,500 adults and 380 youngsters.
According to Arnold, he's composed original music that will be prerecorded; the artists' vocals, however, will be performed live. (Yes, you can breathe easy: No more groaning about bad lip-syncing!)
Of course, the festivities won't scrimp on tradition or formalities. There'll be a march of athletes—all 10,000 of them—along with speeches from, among others, Queen Elizabeth II and Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympics Committee.
Natch, the blowout will also pass the proverbial torch to the 2016 host nation, Brazil, during a flag ceremony in which its national anthem will be played, along with those of Greece and Great Britain.
"It's more theatrical than a concert because it covers every inch of the stadium," Arnold promises. "Hopefully, it will be a big party."
Indeed, looks like London's gearing up for a medal-worthy sprint toward the Olympics finish line!
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How's this for ending the 2012 London Olympic Games with a bang?
The games will come to a rousing finish with performances by One Direction, Spice Girls, The Who, George Michael and Take That at this Sunday's highly anticipated closing ceremony, a source confirms exclusively to E! News.
The news caps months of speculation about exactly which top British talents will be gracing the event, whose roster has remained under top-secret lockdown. But that's not all the talent that will be on hand, either.
Queen with Brian May, Jessie J, Madness, Pet Shop Boys and Russell Brand will also be taking part in the extravaganza, according to the source.
Featuring a little something for everyone, the closing event sounds great: One Direction's appearance is impeccably timed to coast on their wild and surging fandom, which has yet to hit its peak while the Spice Girls and Take That, offer a much more nostalgic edge, and will certainly hit some high notes with viewers raring for their '90s heyday.
Now that's what we call the thrill of victory!
(Originally published on Aug. 9, 2012 at 3:01 p.m. PT)