NO OLYMPICS
Beckham not selected by Great Britain

David Beckham: “Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold." Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

There will be no gold medals, or a chance at silver or bronze ones as well for David Beckham at the Olympics.

The LA Galaxy star was left off Great Britain’s team for the Summer Games, which begin next month. The announcement was made on Thursday.

“Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me,” Beckham said in a statement. “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. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold.

“As a Londoner I was really proud to have played a small part in bringing the Olympics to my home town … and I can’t wait for the Games to begin and will enjoy every moment along with the rest of Great Britain.”

England coach Stuart Pearce traveled to the U.S. to check out the 37-year-old Beckham last week.

In some quarters, there were people who felt that Beckham would be rewarded with a spot on the team because he had helped London secure the Summer Games in 2005.

But Pearce had the final say.

“We have been very clear from the outset, it’s absolutely Stuart’s choice and he is totally free to make the selection of the team he believes will put in the best performance,” British Olympic Association chief Andy Hunt was quoted by Agence-France Presse. “It’s as simple as that.”

Former England international goalkeeper Peter Shilton, backed Pearce, his former teammate.

“I’ve not been watching David play in the States but it’s a different level of football over there,” Shilton told Sky Sports. “Stuart Pearce wants to do well and win the tournament. To do that you must win so many games in so many days and the older you get the less you can do that.

“David might play the first game well, but then the second game becomes a bit harder. He’s been a fantastic player over the years, certainly when he was at his peak, but he’s nowhere near the player he was.

“It would have been great from a publicity point of view, but Stuart Pearce obviously feels he’d struggle in that type of tournament.”