London 2012 Olympics: David Beckham to have starring role at Olympic opening ceremony The former England captain featured heavily in the campaign to bring the Olympics to Britain in Singapore in 2005 and has since regularly featured in the build-up as an Olympic ambassador. Team GB football manager Stuart Pearce left Beckham out of his squad for the competition after deciding to take Manchester City defender Micah Richards instead. But Beckham was said to be delighted on Saturday night after discovering he had been given a major Olympics role after all. He was among the representatives, along with Princess Anne, that flew the Olympic flame back from Greece and before his omission Beckham had been believed to be in the running to light the Olympic cauldron. However, he has since said the role should be reserved for someone who has achieved Olympic greatness. Suggestions he could be one of the eight Britons to carry the Olympic flag into the stadium have also been dismissed. The LA Galaxy midfielder said after being left out of the squad: "Everyone knows how proud I am of representing my country and to do it in my home town on such a big stage would have been incredible so, of course, I'm disappointed, but life goes on.