Matthew Childs/Action Images/ZUMAPRESS.comDavid Beckham is thrilled to have helped carry the Olympic torch to his home country. Just don't ask him to light the flame at the opening ceremony of the London games.
The English soccer star told Sky Sports at a Los Angeles Galaxy training that he doesn't feel he deserves the honor and hoped organizers would ask someone who'll actually be competing—unlike Beckham, who unfortunately failed to make the cut for Great Britain's 18-man squad.
"Lighting the torch in the stadium is something that should be done by an Olympian. An Olympian who has done incredible things for our country and won gold medals," the 37-year-old sports icon said with his trademark humility.
He added: "I'm sure whoever decides that, it will be an Olympian, but we'll have to wait and see."
Two weeks ago, Beckham learned he would not be joining Team GB on the pitch for the London games after he was passed over by manager Stuart Pearce, who eschewed the legendary midfielder's offensive prowess in favor of defensive players.
Serving as the U.K.'s sports ambassador, the London-born Becks was instrumental in wooing the International Olympic Committee to select his hometown as the setting for the 2012 competition. And he certainly had the résumé to convince, having played for Manchester United and Real Madrid as well as captaining England's team in the 2006 World Cup.
While London Olympic Committee organizers say they still want him to participate in the games in some capacity, though couldn't yet say how, Beckham insisted he's cool with watching the action from the sidelines.
"I am going to be just proud to be there as a fan more than anything, in a part of London where I grew up playing soccer over the fields that have been changed now," the shirtless wonder said. "As a fan and an Englishman I am going to be very proud."
Now that's a good sport.