London 2012 Olympics: Great Britain basketball star Luol Deng's place at Games in jeopardy after wrist injury

Deng missed Britain's first ever appearance in a European Championships back in 2009 after failing to overcome a stress fracture in his right tibia suffered while playing for the Bulls.

His decision to put off surgery and play through the problem raises questions over whether he will be fit for the Olympics in London.

However, Deng, who suffered a similar injury to his right wrist during the 2004-05 NBA season, ultimately having surgery before the end of the season, is optimistic after consulting the doctors who treated him then.

"It could always be worse. Injuries happen," Deng said.

"And this happened in the fourth quarter of a game. But it is what is. It's just: 'What do we do from here.'

"I'm very confident that I'll be fine. It's sore, but the soreness is going down a lot in two days. So every day [I'll] keep treating it and see if I can get rid of the soreness and just try to be back there as soon as possible."

Deng's injury is the latest setback for GB who are sweating over the fitness of Eric Boateng, Joel Freeland and Nate Reinking.

Performance director Chris Spice admitted that the action in the NBA, in which Deng is logging a career high 38.3 minutes per game, has been "absolutely ferocious" this season.

He added: "The workload on key players and the increased injury risk on players has become quite an issue, certainly the Bulls have been badly hit. There is very little we can do, the lock out has determined that there be this short highly compressed season."

London 2012 Olympics: qualification dream over for Great Britain's rhythmic gymnastics group

A plea from parents and members of the team to the sporting body to consider their superior performance in the final round, rather than the qualifying round, was rejected.

The team had failed to make the self-imposed qualifying mark by just 0.273 in the group all-round competition at the gymnastics test event earlier this week, the performance marked down by a knot in a ribbon.

In a statement, the board of British Gymnastics said it will refuse to nominate the team to the British Olympic Association for selection.

The standard was agreed last May so that the sport could prove it would be able to perform credibly at the Olympics. To date this is the first British sport not to have made the agreed qualifying marks.

"In accordance with the selection process approved by the BOA (which was agreed and acknowledged by all competing group members), British Gymnastics wishes to confirm that in line with this policy it will not be nominating a rhythmic gymnastics group for inclusion into Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games," the statement said.

But the board said it would nominate an individual rhythmic gymnast for Olympic selection, likely to be Francesca Jones of Wales.

The officials said to fall short of the qualifying standard was an enormous disappointment for everyone but the team performance will be a catalyst for ongoing development of the discipline within the country.

London 2012 Olympics: BOA nominate Great British Olympians for torch relay

Jim Redmond clambered over the seats at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona in 1992 to take to the track and help his son cross the finishing line after he tore his hamstring during the semi-finals of the 400 metres.

_{Hero: Jim Redmond helps his son Derek over the finishing line at Barcelona 1992 (Photo: PA)}

Paul Mears's son Chris is in contention for a place in Britain's diving team, but three years ago he was fighting for his life after suffering a serious training accident while competing for Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

The teenager suddenly collapsed in Sydney and was taken to hospital, where doctors found he had ruptured his spleen and was also suffering from a virus they suspected to be meningitis.

He went on to make a full recovery, but the thought of almost losing his son still fills Mears with emotion.

Mears said: “I am truly delighted at being nominated to carry the Olympic Flame during the London 2012 torch relay. It has been a very long road for our son Chris towards the Olympic Games and as parents we have supported him throughout that journey, right from the age of seven when he first began to dive.

"Now that he is on the verge of selection for Team GB it is marvellous that I have the opportunity to participate in this once in a lifetime event, a true honour.”

Redmond added: "I am very, very proud that I was selected.

"Whether it's for five inches or five miles, it's a proud day to be asked to do something like this. I never dreamt that I would be asked to represent the general public as a torch bearer. I can't wait to turn it in to reality."

The London organising committee for the Olympic Games are yet to reveal who will have the honour of taking the Olympic torch on its final lap and lighting the cauldron in the opening ceremony, but bookmakers William Hill have Redgrave as their 8/13 favourite.

David Cameron: London 2012 Olympics 'will leave a great legacy'

Speaking to reporters at the Aquatics Centre, Mr Cameron praised the "beautiful, inspiring" arena.

He added: "All credit to the people who have been involved in providing these venues, getting them done on time and on budget."

The Prime Minister said the Olympic Games would create "a massive legacy", encouraging people across Britain to take up sport and "do more exercise".

"We have spent money and sporting organisations have spent money building great swimming pools in Luton, in the West Country and in Scotland so there are centres like this in other parts of the UK," he said.

"The whole country can benefit from the legacy of the Games because of the inspiration they will bring to people young and old."