Beckham received a major blow today…hot stuff’s been widely expected to be named as one of the three over-age players in Stuart Pearce’s Under-23 squad for the London Games in July and August…but it’s not gonna happen. Beckham has been left OFF the 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…Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me,” Beckham, 37, said in quotes relayed by his spokesman on Thursday. “As a Londoner, I will have been really proud to have played a small part in bringing the Olympics to my home town as part of Seb’s [Coe] team, and I can’t wait for the games to begin and enjoy every moment along with the rest of Great Britain.”

Reuters reports:

As a globally recognized figure, he has had a major role both in London winning the Olympics and in the build-up to the Games, helping bring the flame back from Greece.
He had been tipped by media to light the stadium cauldron when the Games begin in his east London birthplace on July 27.
This now looks unlikely while he definitely will not be able to be the British flag bearer at the opening ceremony as he is not competing.
Critics who believe football has an uneasy place in the Games because of the vast sums of money professionals earn had said they would be uncomfortable with the Olympics becoming a “David Beckham show”.

Huh? Even in his prime, I don’t recall any Olympic games that turned into “a David Beckham show.” Beckham was part of the closing ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as part of the London 2012 team…that seemed to go well, no?

Beckham told reporters last month: “I don’t want to be picked on a shirt sale or a stadium filler. I want to be picked because of what I can bring to the team.”

Apparently, the finicky Brits are done with the man who brings class and talent to the games. Because that is what he represents-and sex appeal of course. We suspect his absence is going to cause a bigger side-show than his involvement would have.

And, if our judgment serves correct, you will see Beckham looking finer than hell, with a smile on his face, cheering for the squad that snubbed him while using the opportunity to raise global awareness for the causes he supports.

It was less than a year ago that Golden Balls-acting as a Paralympics Games Ambassador- joined Team GB’s visually impaired footballers for their training session-and scored a goal while blindfolded. Apparently, even that doesn’t qualify him for the squad.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com