In regards with the to London Games' motto of “Inspire a Generation”, organisers put unknown youngsters in the global limelight rather than established sporting greats in the closing act of a madcap four hours of comedy, spectacle, noise and emotion.

Thomas Heatherwick's design of the Olympic cauldron has been one of the most closely guarded secrets of the whole ceremony.

The Olympic flame had been driven up the Thames in a speed boat by former England football Captain David Beckham to the stadium.

It was carried into the stadium by Sir Steve Redgrave, the five-time gold medal-winning rower and the first of seven “British Olympic heroes” honored in the closing moment of the ceremony.

The other heroes were: Lynne Davies, who captained the British Olympic team in 1980 and 1984; Duncan Goodhew, who won swimming gold in 1980; Dame Kelly Holmes, who won gold at 800m and 1500m in 2004; Dame Mary Peters, who won gold in the pentathlon in 1972, Shirley Robertson, who won gold for sailing on 2000; and Daley Thompson, the decathlon champion of 1980 and 1984.

The young athletes, each nominated by a one of the above honored Olympian, lit a single tiny flame each within a copper petal on the ground, which triggered the ignition of more than 200 petals. The petals then rose towards each other to form one flame, described as a “Flame of Unity.” 

The choice of teenagers for the final stage marks a change from recent Games where some of the world's most famous athletes have carried out the lighting.

The lighting of the cauldron holds huge symbolism within the opening ceremony as the flame burns above the stadium for the duration of the Games.