David Beckham and Ryan Giggs confirm Olympics interest

David Beckham and Ryan Giggs confirm Olympics interest

David Beckham and Ryan Giggs are among
players who have indicated they wish to be
considered for the British men's team at the
London 2012 Olympics.
Of 191 players written to by the Football
Association last month, only seven have ruled
themselves out.
Olympic football is for under-23s but Beckham,
36, and Giggs, 38, could both be included as
over-age players.
"Players recognise how special this opportunity
is," said Darryl Seibel of the British Olympic
Association.
Former England captain Beckham's availability for
Olympic selectionhad been widely known but
the fact he and Manchester United midfielder
Giggs are among those sounded out by the FA
indicates they are being considered for the three
over-age picks the Team GB squad can include.
Players did not have to respond in writing to the
FA's letter if they wanted to be in the Team GB
player pool, from which coach Stuart Pearce will
pick his squad for the Olympics, only if they did
not wish to.
However, a large percentage of the 184 players
did contact the FA to confirm their interest.
"This is an outstanding response and it confirms
what we have believed all along, which is that
there is widespread interest among players in
competing for Team GB at theLondon 2012
Games," continued BOA communications
director Seibel.
The seven players who have said they do not
wish to be involved are reported to be from
across the home nations, including at least one
Englishman, and are from a variety of clubs.