London 2012 Olympics: Team GB could prove lucrative for Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and the BOA

Brothers in arms: Rooney and Giggs could be a big attraction for Team GB at London 2012

There are three men who are genuine considerations for the over-23 spots in the Team GB football side at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

David Beckham is a shoe-in if only for the publicity and ticket sales he will generate.

But the other two names will convert the Team GB ‘Dream Team’ into a Team GB ‘Redeem Team’. They are Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs.

Both have appeared in the newspapers for the wrong reasons in recent years, with front page exposure about their private pursuits not nearly as welcome as the back page coverage of their sporting heroics.

What these players do in their personal lives may ultimately be of little relevance to their football skills, but competing in the London 2012 Olympics will surely give them an opportunity to present to the world a different side to their tabloid personas.

The London Olympic organisers need to shift a million football tickets and having such high profile personalities as part of the home football side is crucial to generating publicity- good or bad.

They certainly will guide the structure of play on the pitch. The degree of influence in helping to mould a cohesive national team – welcoming Welsh players Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey for instance – could enhance their leadership credentials.

Commercially the role is also a winner for the players. Technically they aren't paid for their time in the Olympic team, but some players have sponsor bonuses in their contracts that could be quite lucrative. Just being able to call themselves “an Olympian'” is a motivating factor.

The BOA is also in an interesting position if these players are selected for Team GB.

The bosses have already set lofty moral standards. We have seen them remain strong in the rejection of any athlete who has served a drug suspension, but the BOA's claim that competing for Team GB is a privilege and bears with it higher ethical responsibilities could be questioned by the over-23 player nominations.

Not that the Olympic athletes village is entirely clear of sordid speculation. Inaccessible to the media and the prying eyes of inconvenient spouses, it is fuelled with reports of record condom usage – something that may even shock a professional footballer.