Olympic selection comes at a cost for multi-millionaire Rothschild

RICHARD Kay's society diary in the Daily Mail is not the first destination for the latest news on the Olympics, with its staple fare chronicling the latest gossip surrounding minor royals and the Ra Ra Ruperts and hairband Hannahs of the Sloane set.

OLYMPIC AMBITION: Baron Edouard de Rothschild wants to compete for Israel in the showjumping events at London 2012 - and money could be no object 

However, according to Princess Diana's favourite journalist, Baron Edouard de Rothschild, son of late French banker Guy, is apparently planning on competing in the showjumping events at the London 2012 Olympics.

But Edouard admits he's not good enough to compete for France so he's moving to Tel Aviv to take up Israeli nationality.

Money it seems is also no object, with Ludger Beerbaum, a four-time Olympic champion, hired as his coach, while he has reportedly spent over four million pounds acquiring a mount with a medal chance, small change when you a worth £200 million.

"I am assuming Israeli ­nationality, primarily for sporting reasons. I hope to become part of the Israeli team, since I am not good enough to take part in international competitions as a Frenchman," he told Kay, without a hint of irony.

His grandfather Édouard Alphonse James de Rothschild is a former Olympic medallist, winning Polo bronze for Bagatelle Polo Club de Paris, who were representing France, at the 1900 Games.

All this follows one day after British violinist Vanessa Mae claimed she wanted to compete in the alpine skiing events at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi for Thailand.

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