Muhammad Ali, sport's greatest ever personality and David Beckham, the most recognisable sportsman living came together on Tuesday night at the Beyond Sport awards ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

Both will have a role to play at the London 2012 opening ceremony on Friday night, with Ali having lit the flame at the curtain-raiser for the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

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The good and the great, the two sporting heroes pose for a picture

Omitted from the Team GB squad, Beckham has been compensated with a role in the Danny Boyle-directed event in two days' time, but kept hum on the subject.

"It is some kind of role in the opening ceremony which I am honoured to be involved in," he confirmed. "I was involved in the start process with this seven years ago and for Seb to have kept me involved, I’m very proud of that."

beckham David Beckham and Muhammad Ali with award winner Matiullah Haidar

The duo presented a sport in the community award to Matiullah Haidar, 19, who arrived in the UK four years ago after his entire family were killed in one day during the Afghanistan conflict.

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David Beckham and Muhammad Ali at the 1999 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards