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Team GB announces Pre-Games Preparation plans for London 2012

Story posted April 14, 2010

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has revealed fresh plans for Team GB’s pre-Games preparations ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The BOA have created a new partnership with Loughborough University which will act as the central focal point of an innovative network of facilities serving the 26 Olympic sports for the 2012 Games. The new plans are the result of a strategic review by the BOA, carried out with the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Olympic sports. The study considered the unique nature of being the host nation Olympic team and offered challenges to the established preparation camp model.

The structure is based on one main camp, the “Headquarters”, based at Loughborough, supported by a series of “Satellite” camps, both in the UK and overseas. In the months immediately preceding the 2012 Games, the BOA will base some of its support services at Loughborough, including Team GB’s kitting out operations. The individual NGBs are in the process of finalising their plans for pre-Games preparations and it is anticipated that a number will use the excellent facilities at Loughborough for their pre-Games preparations.

It is intended that all members of Team GB will pass through Loughborough University for the official kitting out process. This will provide the essential opportunity to bring together the hundreds of athletes and officials into one collective unit and mentally prepare the whole of Team GB for competition at the largest scale multi-sports environment in the world. As part of the process, the BOA has conducted an extended review of potential partners, including Aldershot - a partnership between Rushmoor Borough Council, the Army and Aspire Defence – and the University of Bath. It is anticipated they, alongside many other outstanding sporting facilities in the UK, will play a key role as satellite partners.

BOA Chief Executive Andy Hunt said: “Our number one priority is to ensure that Team GB athletes have the best possible preparation environment immediately before the Games in 2012. We are delighted that Loughborough University will partner the BOA as Team GB’s preparation HQ. We’re confident Loughborough’s excellence in the field of sport will be of huge benefit to Team GB’s aspiration of securing fourth place in the London 2012 medal table."

“As host nation, we face unique opportunities and challenges. We’ve worked with our sports to review the best way to help them prepare for the Games, and it’s clear that different sports need different facilities provided at a variety of different locations. So that is what we are focused on delivering. We are grateful to both the Aldershot Partnership and the University of Bath for their continued commitment to partnering with the BOA and Team GB as we prepare for London 2012.”

Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University, said: “We are delighted that Loughborough University has been selected as the headquarters of Team GB’s preparation camp. The University has been the base for the preparation of around 170 British Olympians over the past 30 years, and many of the country’s 2012 contenders are already using our state-of-the-art facilities.  Today’s announcement is confirmation that Loughborough offers the best possible Olympic preparation environment for many of Team GB’s sports.”

Brigadier Neil Baverstock, Commander 145 (South) Brigade, said: “As a partnership, the Army, Rushmoor Borough Council and Aspire Defence are committed to supporting Team GB and the British Olympic Association. We are happy to make available our facilities, as required by the BOA or sport governing bodies as part of their overall strategy for the Games. We are pleased that the BOA has recognised the importance and potential of Aldershot and the contribution that the area and the partnership can make to the success of the 2012 Olympics. We will continue to look for further opportunities to make the most of the unique legacy of London 2012.”

British Cycling Performance Director Dave Brailsford said: “The flexibility provided by the BOA’s 2012 preparation camp strategy is to be applauded. We fully intend to create a successful satellite preparation camp for Britain’s cyclists, as we did prior to the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, when we prepared in Newport, Wales. We acknowledge the special importance of competing for Team GB under one banner, alongside athletes from other sports in Olympic Games and we place great value upon the support network provided by the BOA across many areas of operation.”

British Handball Performance Director Lorraine Brown said: “Our players will be preparing for their first Olympic Games, so the vast Olympic experience that the British Olympic Association can bring to the table is very important to us.  Participating in the Team GB headquarters camp will give our athletes the unique experience of preparing in a multi-sport environment, such as the one they will be met with when they enter the Olympic Village.”

British Triathlon Performance Director Heather Williams said: “Our National Performance Centre for Triathlon is located at Loughborough University and we will be using the state of the art performance facilities at the University, supported by the Loughborough Sport Development team, over the next 2½ years as we prepare our team for London 2012. The BOA’s decision to base the Team GB Headquarters at the University will be hugely beneficial to us. It means we will be able to tap into the support network available from the BOA in familiar surroundings in the final weeks and days  before we enter our final competition specific preparation, ensuring we are ready for the unique challenge of a home Games.”

British Badminton Olympic Committee Performance Director Ian Moss said: "The world class facilities available at Loughborough University will provide Great Britain’s badminton players with an excellent training base as the team prepares to achieve their best for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games. As a team, we are delighted that the training options open to our athletes now includes this outstanding facility to complete preparations. Being a part of the Team GB headquarters will ensure that our athletes are able to benefit from the full range of support services available in the run-up to London 2012, and we look forward to working together with the BOA to fine tune our planning.”