Giggs ready for Olympics bow

23 July 2012 20:06

Great Britain captain Ryan Giggs says he is excited to play in the first international tournament of his career at the Olympics.

The Manchester United midfielder will lead the side out against Senegal in their opening game at Old Trafford on Thursday, his home ground for the entirety of his 21-year club career.

Welshman Giggs, who made 64 appearances for his country, has never progressed to a major finals, coming closest when Romania piped the Welsh to the 1994 World Cup.

"My career for my country has obviously been the total opposite to my club career, I've been so successful with United but not so with Wales," Giggs told TheFA.com.

"I would always watch the other lads, especially those ones I grew up with, Becks, Butty, Nev, Scholesy, go away on international tournaments and I would wish that I could do the same.

"Unfortunately, I never got the chance, but now I've got the chance and even in the first few weeks together here, I've seen things that I haven't seen in my career before. It's been an eye opener, and really enjoyable as well.

"It's [playing in the Olympics] not something you think of as a footballer. The game has been played at the Olympics, but there hasn't been a Great Britain team for a long, long time. As a Welshman, you don't think you'll get into the Olympics really.

"To be there representing Great Britain as captain is going to be something special."

Giggs' Manchester United teammates are embarking on their pre-season tour, and the 38-year-old says that manager Sir Alex Ferguson was a key figure in his decision to take part in Great Britain's squad.

"Right from the start, he was keen for me to be involved and he's backed me ever since really," he said.

"He's been good and he recognises that maybe a tournament could add to what already is a pretty good career. He's been supportive all the way through my career, since I was 13 through to today."