Coe: No pressure on Pearce to pick Beckham

May 17, 2012 01:56 PM EDT

Athens: London Olympic Games chairman Sebastian Coe rubbished reports saying there was pressure from the organizing committee on Team GB coach Stuart Pearce to pick David Beckham.

"We have put no pressure on Stuart Pearce at all," Coe was quoted speaking from Athens in BBC's website. "He has to pick the team he thinks can lift the trophy.

"The coach is in pole position. You cannot put any pressure on him, it is entirely up to Stuart Pearce."

Beckham will arrive in Athens to take part in a ceremony to handover the Olympic Flame to the London 2012 organizers.

Coe rejected suggestions that making Beckham such an integral part of the 2012 build-up was putting extra pressure on Pearce to pick the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder.

"Obviously having David around the Olympic program is a fantastic thing, but we wouldn't expect a call for Daley Thompson or Steven Redgrave just because they are also involved.

"David has been with us from the beginning. Even in Los Angeles he was with us, helping us with the global engagement program. It's right he should be with us here.

However, Beckham is expected to be a part of the Team GB team, with several reports suggesting he will most likely be named captain.

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