British Olympic officials are keen to find a significant role for David Beckham at the Games after the former England captain was left out of the Team GB football squad by the coach Stuart Pearce, reports The Guardian. The 37 year old former Manchester United and England star played a key part in securing the Games for London as part of the delegation that travelled to Singapore in 2005, and worked with the London 2012 chairman Lord Coe as part of the failed bid to land the 2018 World Cup.
Coe emphasised:
"He really gets this. He is from east London and knows how important the Games and sport are to young people. He is a great role model and we are lucky to have such an advocate. I will be talking to him about a Games-time role." "Team selections are up to the coaches and managers of each sport." But he added: "David has been an extraordinary supporter, probably our number one supporter, of the Games from the very beginning and is keen to continue his enthusiastic support right to the end.
The Team GB men's football side are due to start their campaign at Old Trafford on 26 July, the day before the opening ceremony.
Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards are believed to have been selected as the trio of overage players in the 18-strong squad, meaning that other potential contenders such as Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick have also been overlooked.
