Confirming chatter from earlier this year, Olympic officials have announced that soccer ace David Beckham will be representing his native England at Beijing’s closing ceremonies. The L.A Galaxy star will have the honor of picking up the Summer Olympics and bringing them over to London, who will host the sporting event in 2012.

“He was very involved in the London bid to get it,” a source tells People Magazine. “As a Londoner he is incredibly proud that the Olympics will be in London. He is passionate about it and looking forward to the games in 2012.”

The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics closing ceremony takes place August 24th.