Muhammad Ali, David Beckham participate in Olympics opening ceremony

(CBS News) Former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and professional soccer player David Beckham both played a part in the London Olympics opening ceremony.

Pictures: London 2012 Opening Ceremony
Complete Coverage: London Olympics 2012

Ali, an Olympic gold medalist, was among a handful of dignitaries who escorted the Olympic flag into the east London Stadium. He sat as the flag was raised minutes before the seven young promising athletes lit the Olympic cauldron. Ali lit the cauldron himself at the 1996 Atlanta games.

Beckham also played a role in marking the start of the Olympic Games at the ceremony on Friday.

Beckham drove a speedboat, with the flame on board,  down the River Thames to the Olympic Stadium. He then passed the flame to five-time Olympic gold medalist Steve Redgrave, who then handed it off the to the young athletes who lit the cauldron.