Coe, who like Thompson won gold at the 1980 and 1984 Games, said that he has already ruled himself out of the running to light the cauldron July 27, 2012 in the Olympic Stadium. He said that if it was for him to select, it would be Thompson because he was ‘a mate’ and also happened to be ‘the greatest Olympian we’ve delivered’.
Coe, however, said that he has now left the selection to Danny Boyle, the film director who is overseeing the opening ceremony.
Other names which are doing the rounds are, Steve Redgrave, Britain’s most successful Olympian with five rowing golds between 1984 and 2000, Dame Kelly Holmes, Chris Hoy and David Beckham.
(Published 15 July 2011, 16:15 IST)
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