East London - Beckham Fails To Make Britain's Olympic Team - News

LONDON (AP) Bending free kicks. Hollywood looks. National hero.

David Beckham Britain's most famous sportsman seemed destined to be a headliner at the London Olympics.

Not on the soccer field.

The former England captain failed to make the British Olympic team, a surprise snub for a local lad who helped secure the games for his city and worked tirelessly to promote them.

"Naturally, I am very disappointed," Beckham said Thursday after being notified that he hadn't been selected for the final 18-man squad. "But there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me."

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder had made Britain's 35-man preliminary shortlist and seemed certain to win one of the three places allowed for players over the age of 23. Instead, he was informed by coach Stuart Pearce that he hadn't made the final squad.

"Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me, so I would have been honored to have been part of this unique Team GB squad," the 37-year-old Beckham said in a statement Thursday.

Beckham's ties to the Olympics go back to 2005 when he joined the bid team run by Sebastian Coe for the competition against Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow. He was with the team in Singapore when London beat Paris in the final round of voting, adding credibility not just as a celebrity but as an east London native.

Since then, Beckham has taken part in countless Olympic activities. He even accompanied the Olympic flame on a flight from Greece to England last month and lit a cauldron signaling the start of the British torch relay.

"David has been an extraordinary supporter, probably our No. 1 supporter, of the games from the very beginning and is keen to continue his enthusiastic support right to the end," Coe said.

He indicated there could still be a role for Beckham, though not in a sporting capacity.

"He really gets this," Coe said. "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."

British bookmaker Ladbrokes slashed the odds on Beckham being given the honor of lighting the Olympic flame at the July 27 opening ceremony, making him 5-1. Five-time rowing gold medalist Steve Redgrave is the 1-2 favorite. The Olympic Stadium is located near Leytonstone, where Beckham was born.