Who Will Light The Olympic Flame in 2012?

[The Camel]

Tucked away in the Racing Post today there are prices on this.

I think there is outstanding value in 2 of selections, but I'm interested in what other people think.

2/1 Redgrave
8/1 Coe
10/1 Reigning Monarch
12/1 Kelly Holmes
25/1 Princess Anne
33/1 Beckham
33/1 Prime Minister
33/1 Grey-Thompson
50/1 Jonathan Edwards
50/1 Amir Khan
50/1 Denise Lewis
50/1 Andy Murray
50/1 Pinsent
50/1 Radcliffe
50/1 Daley Thompson
66/1 Gunnell
66/1 Christie

Thoughts anyone?

[DaveShoelace]

I dont know what the standard is for who lights the flame (ie, Olympians, celebs, politicians), I assume it varies from country to country, but Becks at 33/1 seems like awesome value given he is our most recognisable sportsman

[The Camel]

Some of the past lighters include:

Muhammed Ali, Cathy Freeman and Li Ning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Flame

[outragous76]

becks looks like amazing value

[gatso]

grey-thompson looks the value to me. either that or a max lay of the monarch/prime minister, both would be completely against the olympic spirit

don't like becks with him not being an olympian

hard to see beyond redgrave though

[bobby1]

Kelly Holmes at 12/1 looks better value than some of the others imo.

Not sure Becks really has the relevance to the event to light the flame.

[bobby1]

Radcliffe at 50 would be my next choice at that price.

[DaveShoelace]

I am really warming to Becks to do it, I think there is so much pressure on the opening ceremony because it was so amazing at the last one, I cant see the UK replicating such a spectacle and have thought for a while we would be using lots of celebrities to compensate for it.

[The Camel]

grey-thompson looks the value to me. either that or a max lay of the monarch/prime minister, both would be completely against the olympic spirit

don't like becks with him not being an olympian

hard to see beyond redgrave though

I pretty much totally agree with all of this.

While I wouldn't usually put anyone off backing a 33/1 shot, Becks has never been an Olympian and unless GB has a football team in this Olympics (do they?) and Beckham is involved I doubt he will get picked.

I think Redgrave is a genuine odds on shot, maybe as short as 1/3. He is the greatest ever Olympian, popular in the Uk and popular with the powers that be too.

If he doesn't get picked Tanni Grey-Thompson must have a decent shout and is overpriced at 33/1 imo.

These odds are with Hills, and not available online, so I'm not sure how much they will lay at 2's.

[nirvana]

Picked out these 2 as well without reading the replies - I guess some kinda concensus don't make it nailed on but may have a tickle - out of interest, any idea when they announce their pick ?

[AndrewT]

Keith's right - Redgrave is nailed on. Coe (as organiser) and Queenie are non-starters.

Beckham is just lol - it's an Olympics, an he isn't an Olympian. Grey-Thompson loses out because Barcelona have already had the archer in the wheelchair light theirs and she wouldn't top that.

Mind you, it is being held in Hackney so probably value in backing some random youth to torch it before the ceremony even begins.

[AndrewT]

In fact, I would make second favourite 'some ten year old kid who won a competition on Blue Peter' or similar.

[The Camel]

Picked out these 2 as well without reading the replies - I guess some kinda concensus don't make it nailed on but may have a tickle - out of interest, any idea when they announce their pick ?

It's usually kept secret until the night..

I know that was the case with Freeman and Ali. I well remember the cheer going up in Atlanta when Ali appeared.

[AndrewT]

Picked out these 2 as well without reading the replies - I guess some kinda concensus don't make it nailed on but may have a tickle - out of interest, any idea when they announce their pick ?

It's usually kept secret until the night..

I know that was the case with Freeman and Ali. I well remember the cheer going up in Atlanta when Ali appeared.

Yeah, David Coleman's voice went so high when Ali appeared that only dogs heard him.

[The Camel]

In fact, I would make second favourite 'some ten year old kid who won a competition on Blue Peter' or similar.

This is an excellent call.

Wonder what price they'll lay?

If they give 25/1 or bigger that would be worth a decent bet.