FILE: OLYMPICS: Former rower Steve Redgrave favourite to light the Olympic flame with Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four minute mile, a close second favourite

Record ID: 332476

  • Title: FILE: OLYMPICS: Former rower Steve Redgrave favourite to light the Olympic flame with Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four minute mile, a close second favourite
  • Date: 27th July 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (RECENT JULY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) DAME KELLY HOLMES BEING INTERVIEWED AT FILM PREMIER
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA98ZZ6GI2LAFIKMK8JXUZWUH3I
  • Story Text: Guessing the identity of the person who runs the final stretch with the Olympic torch and lights the cauldron is always one of the highlights of the Games opening extravaganza.
    With the London Olympics fast approaching, Britons are happily combining two of their favourite pastimes: sports and betting - no matter how ludicrous some of the bets.
    With just over a week to go, bookmakers are closing their books on the most popular bet so far - who will light the flame, the symbol of the Games, at the opening ceremony on July 27.
    At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali lit the cauldron in an emotional show as he struggled with Parkinson's disease.
    In 2000, Cathy Freeman ignited the Sydney Olympic flame in a symbol of reconciliation between Aboriginal Australians and the European settlers. She went on to win the host's only track gold in the 400 metres.
    China's former champion gymnast Li Ning was awarded that honour in Beijing in 2008.
    This time around, the bookmakers agree the clear favourite for that coveted task, with odds of 10/11 is 50-year-old Steve Redgrave, Britain's most successful Olympian who won rowing gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000.
    Redgrave's main rival appears to be Roger Bannister, at evens.
    Bannister, 83, made history in 1954 as the first man to run the four-minute mile, a barrier many had thought physically impossible. He retired from athletics later that year to pursue a distinguished career as a neurologist.
    Also in the running is Britain's best all-round athlete, Daley Thomson, who won the Olympic decathlon title in Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984, currently at 12/1.
    Kelly Holmes who won two gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics is 25/1. Sailor Ben Ainslie, looking to make if four golds in four Games in 2012 was quoted at 10/1 and Chris Hoy, triple cycling gold medallist in Beijing, has dropped back to 40/1 after being selected to carry Britain's flag at the opening ceremony.
    Teenage diving sensation Tom Daley is a serious contender at 14/1 and other contenders include Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London organising committee. Coe won the Olympic 1500 metres in '80 and '84 and David Beckham, who is currently 7/1.
    As an international icon and also a local boy, Beckham's involvement with the bid process had much to do with London winning the Games.
    Beckham says the honour should go to an Olympian, something he cannot now aspire to, having failed to make Britain's soccer squad, But he is certainly expected to feature in the opening ceremony.
    Odds of 25/1 on Bradley Wiggins might well attract a lot of interest after he won the Tour de France. Wiggins Olympic credentials are impeccable with six track cycling medals, including three golds.
    Punters have also shown interest in putting their money on Prince William, and, incredibly, the Queen, both at 50-1.
    Any member of the Royal family attracts odds of 16/1 but the most likely blue blood to light the flame is the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips.
    A member of the British 2012 Olympic equestrian team, Phillips was individual eventing world champion from 2006 to 2010. She follows in the footsteps of her mother, Princess Anne, and father, Mark Phillips - both equestrian Olympians from the 1970s.
    Bookmakers William Hill have even money on it raining on the night of the opening ceremony. They've also taken some bets on whether London Mayor Boris Johnson would have a mishap and set his notoriously wild hair on fire with the Olympic torch.
    But spokesman Rupert Adams said the weirdest bet yet was a modest wager that a UFO would appear above the Olympic Stadium on the night of the opening ceremony. The odds? A paltry payout of 1000-1.
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