last updated: Friday 25 September 2009, 09:18am

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Blur singer 'to direct Olympic ceremony'

Damon Albarn

Blur frontman Damon Albarn is being tipped as a leading contender to direct the opening ceremony at the London Olympics in 2012.

The Independent newspaper says preliminary discussions have taken place with several contenders.

But a spokeswoman for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) says the committee is 'way off making an appointment'.

It would not be the first Olympic connection for the star. The 41-year-old worked with Gorillaz collaborator Jamie Hewlett to create animation and music for the BBC's coverage of the Beijing Games.

But if the rumour is true, Blur fans hoping for the band's first album since 2003's Think Tank could be left disappointed.

The band reformed for a series of huge comeback concerts in the summer, sparking speculation the foursome would be heading back into a studio to record new songs.

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.