David Beckham: I’m not the right choice to light the Olympic flame

English soccer icon David Beckham on Friday told reporters in Los Angeles that he is not the right person to light the Olympic flame to open the London Games.

“I’ve always said, lighting the torch in the stadium is something that should be done by an Olympian … who has done incredible things for our country and won gold medals,” Beckham said.

Beckham had been angling for one of the three overage spots on Great Britain’s Olympic soccer team, but he was officially left off the squad late last month. Still, he plans to be ever present in his role as an Olympic ambassador.

“At the end of the day, I’ll be there to support the GB team,” he said. “It’s going to be a proud moment to be there and know that I was part of bringing the Olympics to the East End of London.”