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Becks: Our winners will inspire children
Shekhar Bhatia, Evening Standard26.08.08
David Beckham said today he hoped the success of British Olympians in Beijing would encourage more children in the capital to take up sports.
The footballer told the Evening Standard he hoped future generations would reap the rewards of the 19 gold medals won in the Games.
He said: "This sort of success always leads to kids wanting to take up sport and do well.
"Kids are already getting ready for 2012 and want to be involved in it."
Beckham, an ambassador for the Olympic bid, revealed his determination to play a role in the run-up to the London Games and wants to overturn the negative image given to the capital's young people.
The LA Galaxy star said that in his experience England's football internationals had brought more young people into his sport and that Team GB would have the same result for London 2012.
"I have seen it with football when we have gone into World Cups and all you see is kids kicking a football around the park and on the street."
A source said that Beckham was also "deeply passionate" about the future of the area he was born in enjoying a rich legacy from the Games.
Beckham said he was delighted that 2012 would mean more financial support for aspiring sports stars in London. "There's a lot of money going into sport and it's paying off," he said.
"The investment is a huge thing. That's what gives the extra materials that the athletes need to perform and win."
1,000 athletes and support staff will parade though streets
Nearly 1,000 athletes and support staff will pack on to open-top buses in October for a London parade to celebrate Britain's Olympic medal haul.
Team GB confirmed today that not just the 312 athletes who competed will be honoured but also the 560 support staff who travelled to Beijing.
City Hall planners and police are drawing up a route for the parade on 16 October, which is expected to take in Buckingham Palace, the Mall and Trafalgar Square.
It is hoped the event will also celebrate the achievements of those taking part in the Paralympics next month.
The British Olympic Association called the parade "a fitting tribute" to the team's achievements.
Boris Johnson said: "To reflect the excitement and pride of the country in our athletes' superb victories, we've set a date in the diary now when we can cheer all our heroes and honour their extraordinary feats at this summer's Games."
• Cardiff became the first city to officially salute Team GB today.
Thousands of fans gathered on the streets as 10 Welsh athletes, including five medal winners, rode through the streets in an open-top bus before being met by First Minister Rhodri Morgan.
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Becks is right. Pity he isn't being put forward as a replacement for Miliband when he gets the chop. He knows more about abroad - he's lived there and earned his living there.
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK
