The event will take place at Hackney Marshes on June 23 –24 and therefore looks set to rival the famous music festival Glastonbury which usually takes place on this date.

Around 100,000 tickets will be available for the event, described by Radio 1 as "the most ambitious event in the station's 44-year history".

The majority of these tickets will be allocated to people living in Hackney, a Host Borough for the 2012 Games, and to the surrounding areas.

"To be part of this event is so important to me," said Lewis, who performed with guitarist Jimmy Page at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Closing Ceremony to signal the handover to London as the host of the 2012 Games.

"I'm so excited about the opportunities and the excitement it will bring to the area.

"Radio 1 is going to put on the biggest show in their history and it is happening in East London.

"I couldn't be happier."

Plan B added: "It is great to have a musical celebration in the area where the Olympics are being held."

Hackney Weekend 2012 will be part of the opening weekend of the London 2012 Festival, the UK-wide cultural celebration and finale of the Cultural Olympiad, running from June 21 – September 9, 2012.

Ruth Mackenzie, director of the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad, said: 'We're delighted that Radio 1's Hackney Weekend is part of the London 2012 Festival line-up.

"It is a perfect fit with our ambitions for the Festival to appeal to young people, to showcase world class talent and to work with our partners in Hackney."

World and European triple jump Champion Phillips Idowu, who was born in Hackney, is among the ambassadors Radio 1 has secured to be involved in the programme of outreach activity ahead of the event.

"I am proud to be from Hackney and it is amazing for the borough to stage what is sure to be one of the biggest and best musical events in UK history," said Idowu, who will be looking to secure gold at London 2012 in order to claim the one major title that has eluded him.

"I can't wait for next summer."

Ticket application details for the event will be announced in the coming months.

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