team gb

Stuart Pearce has been appointed coach of the Great Britain men’s Olympic football team at London 2012, it was revealed at a Wembley press conference. Pearce, a former England captain and current coach of his country’s Under-21s, will have the final word on team selection with Hope Powell, England women’s coach, put in charge of the GB women’s team in their first appearance in the Olympics.

Pearce has expressed a desire to make up his squad from players of all four home nations, even though the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations are still officially opposed to a Great Britain team as a concept, fearing it could jeopardise their future independence in UEFA and FIFA-run tournaments. Welsh stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey have already said they would love to play in the Games if selected, however, and pressure is being put on the respective nations to sanction a one-off British squad. They how many players from Scotland and Northern Ireland would make a GB squad on current form is a matter of conjecture.

Pearce refused to be drawn on whether 36-year-old David Beckham might be included as one of the three over-age players allowed in the 18-man squad of players, which must be primarily under the age of 23.

“Everyone will be up for selection.” he diplomatically answered when pressed, “Form and fitness will determine who I pick. The FA have said to me the decision is totally yours, you pick who you deem right and proper to be part of this spectacle.”

Club commitments shouldn’t affect the players available in Europe when the 2012 Games take place, as most will still be in pre-season. The last time Team GB was represented in the men’s Olympic football competition was the 1960 Games in Rome when they beat Taiwan, but only drew with hosts Italy and lost to Brazil. Stan James have already opened a book who will make Pearce‘s final squad with Bale 4/1 and fellow Welshman Joe Ledley 17/2. Ryan Giggs and Northern Ireland‘s record goalscorer David Healy would be sentimental choices and are 5/1 and 33/1 respectively. Beckham is rated a 6/5 chance for a final international swansong.

With the focus shifting towards the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, which opens on February 12th, Great Britain are hopefully of bringing back some medals. Maybe surprisingly, some of them have great potential in being gold. Not famed for their prowess in the world of winter sports, Britain have some real hopefuls out the western coast of the Great White North. This is thanks to an injection of cash in the field of winter sports over the past years, with British sport getting some very welcome backing. With performances at the European and World Championships over the past couple of years, it looks as if that is beginning to bring rewards.

Britain are sending fourteen skiers over there, despite the governing body of British Skiing going bust, just before the start of the games. The British Olympics Association had to step in to ensure that the skiers would have the necessary funding and resources to get there and compete in the games. On a whole there have been a lot of funds thrown at the problem of under-funding and resources, which have led to Britain failing to make an impact at the Winter Olympics for decades. Unfortunately, skiing has not been so well looked after. Now however, on a whole, the winds of change they are a-blowing apparently, with some real gold medal hopes. Here we take a look at some of the medal hopefuls for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

If there is one sport at the Winter Olympics that Britain is kind of known for, it is in the field of Curling. There is a wonderful chance that Britain can walk off with the Gold Medal in the Men’s Curling at the 2010 Winter Olympics, as Britain’s Men are current World Champions. That will put them in good stead, and mean they are full of confidence ahead of the game. It is the Scots team which all the hopes are riding on, as David Murdoch leads his men in action, after winning the World title back in April. The Women’s team will be lead by Eve Muirhead, who has had major successes at the junior level of the sport, and will be looking to replicate it on the big stage.

Skeleton. The very scary looking run down the bobsleigh track on little more than a tea tray. Still, after some good backing and investment, Britain are sending four competitors to compete. Most notable name on the list is that of Shelley Rudman, who will be hoping to go one better than her silver place finish four years ago in Turin. She has the consistency and the skill of the highest level to easily make a podium finish in Vancouver. She also came in second place at the end of the World Cup season. Watch out for her.

Short Track Speed Skating is where Britain could pick up some medals, if not Gold, then they will be looking for podium finishes. Britain’s Speed Skaters performed excellently at the European Championships, brining home three medals. Jonathan Eley, Elise Christie and Sarah Lindsay are prominent names in Team GB, and will their recent success, the Short Track Speed Skating team is considered to be quite strong.

Britain have had some great success since money was thrown at developing some Winter Sports Stars. Kristian Bromley dominated in the Bob Skeleton, while success has also come in the women’s Bobsleigh. There is also some hope for Britain’s new Torvill and Dean, with John and Sinead Kerr possibly in amongst the medal hunt if they perform to the very best of their abilities. While being an outside chance, there is a lot of belief with the pair. Snowboarders Lesley McKenna and Zoe Gillings will be doing their best to twist, turn and flip her way to some extreme success, all as part of 52 competitors making up Team GB across 6 sports.

With all of the hope an optimism of the home nations, it is no point looking towards the top of the medal table for Team GB, no matter how patriotic you want to be. But there are some genuine chances of bringing home some medals, and the bookmakers are offering some nice prices on Great Britain specials.

Great Britain Gold Medals:
Not to win one: 2/5 at Ladbrokes
To win one: 7/4 at Ladbrokes

Great Britain Medals
To win 1 or 2: 8/13 at SportingBet
To win 2-3 medals: 4/6 at Ladbrokes
Over 2 medals: 6/4 at SportingBet
3 or more: 5/4 at Bwin
4 or more medals: 7/2 at Ladbrokes

Shelley Rudman to win a medal: 4/6 at 888Sport
Nicola Minichiello to win a medal: 7/2 at Blue Square
Jonathan Eley to win a medal: 4/1 at 888Sport
Sinead and John Kerr to win a medal: 5/1 at Blue Square

Great Britain Total Gold Medals:
None: 8/13 at SportingBet
1 or More: 6/5 at SportingBet