Selection Criteria for Team Great Britain for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

 

This document outlines the selection criteria for the cycling component of Team Great Britain (TGB) for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The objective of the selection criteria is to ensure only the most competitive athletes are selected and that the maximum number of cycling medals are won.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) will need to be satisfied that all selections meet the Olympic Qualifying Standard as agreed between the BOA and British Cycling (BC). The final number of athletes selected will be dependant on the overall team size as determined by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). BC's primary aim will be to select the team with the best potential to win medals.

The team size restrictions may result in a significant amount of "doubling up" in events.

All TGB selections will be discretionary and based on the professional judgement of the Team Great Britain Selection Panel (TGBSP). The TGBSP will be chaired by the Cycling Performance Director and will comprise the Olympic Games Team Manager and Olympic Programmes Performance Manager. Additional expert opinion may be sought from discipline specific coaches and the Olympic Programmes Psychiatrist where deemed necessary. For the avoidance of doubt, selection by the TGBSP is selection for nomination to the BOA. The BOA will confirm selections and no announcement may be made by BC or any athletes regarding selection without the approval of the BOA.

Whilst selections remain discretionary, the TGBSP will take account of:

• An athlete's current and recent UCI World Ranking.
• International race peformances in the period 1 April 2007 to 29 June 2008.
• Training performances in the twelve month period prior to the final nomination date 10 July 2008.
• Specific nature of the Beijing Games courses (road race, road time trial, MTB and BMX).
• The profile of athletes already selected to ensure optimal team composition.
• Young exceptional athletes who will benefit from an Olympic experience and are considered medal prospects for 2012.
• To be eligible for selection for a team event (Team Pursuit, Team Sprint, Madison) a rider must demonstrate commitment to, and co-operate in, planned team training sessions.

Selected athletes will be expected to commit to the Olympic Programmes blood profiling programme. Selected athletes may be required to undergo assessment including physiological, psychiatric and/or medical screening in the period between the selection date and the event. This will be to confirm fitness following injury, illness or a period of marked under-performance. All physiological and psychiatric assessments will be conducted at the National Cycling Centre and/or English Institute of Sport (EIS) by BC and/or EIS staff. Up until the date of the Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM) on 20 July 2008 when the BOA enters the full British Olympic Team with the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games the TGBSP reserves the unconditional right to de-select any athlete who does not fulfil the necessary fitness or performance standards following assessment by BC and/or EIS staff. The TGBSP will make any decisions on selection of any replacement athletes based on the same criteria set out above for selections.

After the DRM has been completed (20 July 2008) but before the event, de-selection and selection of a replacement athlete is only allowed in accordance with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Late Athlete Replacement Policy (or any revised or amended IOC policy dealing with athlete replacement) and is the responsibility of the BOA. This primarily provides for replacement in the case of injury and/or illness. In the event of there being a query over the ability of an athlete to be able to compete to the best of his/her ability due to an injury or illness the following procedure will be adhered to:

(i) the BOA's Chief Medical Officer can require an athlete to undergo a medical examination to determine his/her fitness to participate. This examination will be carried out by the BOA's Chief Medical Officer or another doctor delegated by him/her. If the athlete fails the medical examination he/she will be withdrawn from TGB and BC may (if appropriate) nominate a replacement athlete in accordance with this policy.

(ii) if the athlete passes the medical examination carried out in accordance with (i) above but BC and/or the BOA still have concerns over whether or not the athlete is able to compete to the best of his/her ability due to the underlying injury or illness, the BOA Chef de Mission can require the athlete to undergo a set of pre-determined sports specific performance tests. Those tests will be agreed in advance and following consultation with the Olympic Team Leader, Physiotherapist and the BOA's Deputy Chef de Mission for Performance. The psychiatric assessment will be undertaken in the form of a clinical interview lasting approximately one hour and may necessitate follow up reviews depending on the initial findings. The tests will be conducted under the control of the Team Leader (or his/her delegate) and a BOA representative or delegate will be present (if possible/available). If the athlete fails the test (which can be undertaken on more than one occasion and within a short time frame if appropriate), he/she will be withdrawn from the Team on medical grounds and, if appropriate, a replacement can be nominated by BC in accordance with the selection policy.

To take part in the Olympic Games as part of TGB, each athlete shall:

• Hold a valid international racing licence issued by a National Federation affiliated to the UCI.
• Be at least 18 years old for track events, 19 years old for road, mountain bike and BMX events or reach this age in the year of the Olympic Games.
• Satisfy the BOA Games Eligibility Criteria to compete for TGB including holding a valid British passport.

In accordance with UK Sport's Doping Control strategy, their Doping Control Directorate will be provided with the dates and venues for all TGB activities and training sessions to assist with their anti-doping programme. All athletes selected for TGB must consent to random, out of competition drug testing.

Final nominations will be forwarded by British Cycling to the BOA on 10 July 2008.

If clarification of any specific selection issue is required, please contact the Olympic Games Team Manager at the below address.

British Cycling operates a formal appeals procedure for challenging selection decisions which is available on request from the BC Excellence office. The Appeals Procedure must be instigated within 48 hours of the athlete being informed by British Cycling that he/she has not been nominated to the BOA for selection. Download: 2008 Olympic Appeals Procedure Document

 

National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester, M11 4DQ
Tel: 0161 274 2090, Fax: 0161 274 2095 - Email: worldclass@britishcycling.org.uk