2012 Olympics Whose honor?

In Britain the speculation is rife about who will have the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron. Two names stand out, those of Sir Roger Bannister and Sir Steve Redgrave but there could be a big surprise.

Sir Roger Bannister . His name may say nothing to the general public. Yet, at the stroke of 22 hours, the British 83 years could be several hundred million pairs of eyes upon him. Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, is being heralded as Sir Steve Redgrave to be the 8000th and last bearer of the Olympic torch in London, chosen unanimously by the jury. Whoever is in charge of lighting the mythical Cauldron. Should, for the secret about the identity of the last holder is closely guarded by a few privileged members of the organization.

For weeks that Britain fantasizes about the name of the lucky one. At a time of social networks, the phenomenon has even taken an enormous magnitude, carrying the most unlikely candidates such Daniel Craig (James Bond actor) and David Cameron, the British Prime Minister. But for a few hours, rumors have strengthened the list to two favorites: the icon of the British middle-distance, Roger Bannister and the rower Steve Redgrave.

Bannister was the first man to run the mile in under four minutes (3'59'' 4). In 1954, the feat was then called a miracle by the press who thought the barrier of the four clock towers impassable. Since then, Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj was shattered in 3'43'' 13 (1999). An athlete's post-war, trained in Oxford, knighted in 1975 and a guarantor of athletics worlds away from the excesses generated by the sports business, the former neurologist the ideal candidate profile. Its rating and Steve Redgrave are neck and neck in English bookmakers. Rower (five Olympic gold medals between 1980 and 2000) confirmed Wednesday that he"would love to be chosen" but that the organizers wanted to "prepare a surprise."

A surprise. So why not the Queen Elizabeth II and a member of the royal family asPrince William  ? Sites Paris in any case take this hypothesis seriously. Problem: if the idea enthusiastically the British, these characters have nothing to do with Olympic history. The opposite of Daley Thompson (decathlon gold medalist in 1980 and 1984) but his recent statements in which he proclaimed himself as the greatest British sporting ahead of Sebastian Coe, denigrating the passage Redgrave and rowing (which failed Private not answer him through the media), could play against him. The choice of a wife,Kelly Holmes (double gold medalist 800 m and 1500 m in 2004), could also make everyone agree. That of David Beckham would win maybe not all the votes while in London, football town par excellence, many are dreaming of a light flame with a masterly kick the Spice Boy.