Ryan Giggs
AP
As the captain of Britain's first Olympic football team in 52 years, Ryan Giggs hopes the combined side for the London Games won't be a one-off.
Giggs is one of five Welsh players in Stuart Pearce's 18-man squad after resisting opposition from their national federation to join the team, reports The Associated Press.
Britain has not fielded an Olympic team since the 1960 Games in Rome because football federations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland feared losing their independence within FIFA.
But the world body assured the football associations their status won't be affected by participating in the 16-team competition as the Olympics return to London for the first time since 1948. However, there are no players from Scotland or Northern Ireland on the team, with the other 13 all from England.
"The different FAs may have opposed it, but people who I have met face to face have been nothing but positive," Giggs said Monday. "I am not a politician, but from what I have experienced, I just hope fellow British footballers can experience what I have."
The Olympics are giving the 38-year-old Giggs his first chance to appear at a major international football event after winning every available major club title with Manchester United.
"I hope it is not a one-off, based on what I have experienced and how much I have enjoyed it this week - I hope in future Olympics there will be more Great Britain teams," Giggs said. "For me it was a chance I could not turn down ... playing in the biggest sporting event in the world."
After arriving at the Olympic Park, coach, Stuart Pearce confirmed that Chelsea striker, Daniel Sturridge has joined up with the squad after being hospitalized with viral meningitis.
"Our fitness and conditioning people are having a look at him, to see how he will come through training," Pearce said. "Chelsea's medical people are more than happy, but I have got to be 100 percent sure in my mind that Daniel is fit enough and can see out a tournament."
After spending Monday night in the athletes' village, the squad travels to northern England ahead of a friendly against Brazil on Friday at Middlesbrough before starting the Olympic tournament against Senegal on July 26 at Old Trafford.