McCartney paid a pound for Olympics opening ceremony

Paul McCartney performs during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. AP/Matt Dunham, Pool

LONDON—Paul McCartney and other star performers at the Olympic Games opening ceremony were paid just one pound for their efforts, London 2012 confirmed Monday.

Beatles star McCartney — who closed the showpiece event — signed a contract for the £1 ($1.60, 1.30 euros) token amount, alongside Mike Oldfield, Dizzee Rascal, Underworld and Emeli Sande.

“The top talent basically gave their services for free,” a London 2012 spokeswoman told AFP.

“But in order to have a formal contract for their services you have to show an amount, so that was set at a pound which enables them to have a contractual arrangement.”

Sande, 25, who sang the hymn “Abide With Me” at Friday’s event, said she was waiting for her fee to hit her bank account.

“I got paid a pound for my work. It’s there in print and I know because I signed the contract myself. Mind you, I haven’t received anything yet!,” she was quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard newspaper.

“When I do, though, that pound will be truly special. Part of what made the whole event so special was the volunteers who were paid nothing and even paid for their own accommodation. It shows how important art is.”

If the payment is yet to go through, it is hardly likely to trouble the likes of McCartney, Britain’s wealthiest musician with an estimated fortune of £665 million, according to The Sunday Times newspaper’s Rich List 2012.

“I don’t imagine they’re going to be fretting too much about it,” the London 2012 spokeswoman said.

“We greatly appreciate all of them for giving up their time.”