UK Sport's Director of Elite Sport, Liz Nicholl, congratulated the British Olympic Association (BOA) on their thorough selection process.

 

She said: "The British Olympic Association has an excellent track record in ensuring that all Olympic sports have the best opportunity to prepare for competition in the immediate run-up to the Games.

 

"They have done this by routinely being ahead of the game and securing the facilities that sports want ahead of the competition.

 

"In selecting Aldershot and making an early announcement, they have provided sports with the opportunity to start their detailed planning for the run-in to London early.

 

"With both Bath and Loughborough in the mix, the decision will undoubtedly not have been an easy one, but our Olympic sports can now begin the detailed dialogue with the BOA to ensure that the camp will effectively be the polish on four years of hard work supported by UK Sport's World Class Performance programme."

 

The decision to choose Aldershot ahead of the other candidates, Loughborough University, the University of Bath and Millfield School, was taken by a panel that comprised of Simon Clegg, the BOA's chief executive, Sir Clive Woodward, the BOA director of elite performance, Mark England, the BOA's director of Olympic operations, and BOA Olympic performance managers Bernie Cotton and Mike Hay together with input from personnel from the Olympic sports.

 

The BOA said that the decision followed a comprehensive review that considered:

 

 

• Proximity - a home for Team GB within easy access of the Olympic Village in Stratford
• Availability of training venues and accommodation
• Suitability – providing facilities for many of the 26 Olympic sports to train at the same time
• Ethos - comfortable accommodation and associated facilities for leisure and recreation in a secure area immediately adjacent to the sport training facilities providing the sense of living in an Olympic Village
• Transport - the availability of a complete on-site transport fleet
• Medical - the availability of an on-site health care centre with services ranging from primary care to diagnostics
• Security - a safe and secluded environment
• Development potential (the Aldershot bid is a partnership comprising Aspire Defence, the Army and Rushmoor Borough Council. Development at the site is part of a major PFI project planned for delivery over the next 35 years)
• Logistics - an area suitable for on-site processing (kitting out, car parking) of Team GB prior to moving into the Olympic Village.

 

Clegg said: “After very careful deliberation over the past year our panel has concluded that Aldershot provides the very best package to meet the requirements of Team GB.

 

"In reaching this difficult decision we have taken into account a wide range of factors that experience has shown are likely to impact on performance and final preparation for the Games.

 

 

 

"We have been spoilt for choice in this process and any one of the short-listed sites offered us a better option than we have experienced at any previous Olympic Games.

 

"This was a very difficult decision for the BOA but we were delighted to find ourselves in such an envious position.

 

 

 

"Our desire is to continue to work closely with the University of Bath and Loughborough University as part of the national effort to deliver a highly successful Team GB in 2012."

 

Dave Collins, the performance director of UK Athletics, said: "It is fantastic news that Aldershot has been selected as the venue for our pre-2012 Olympic preparation camp.

 

"The camp offers an ideal location for track and field athletes to concentrate on the job ahead and ensures they are able to focus on their preparations."

 

Among those who attended today's launch at the Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre was Stephanie Twell, the 2006 and 2007 European junior cross country champion who is considered one of Britain's biggest hopes of success in 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

She said: “I took up athletics because the Aldershot track was literally in my back garden.

 

"I have trained here all my life and to think that I can train here before the Olympics in 2012 - if selected - is just great.

 

"It is really inspiring. Basing Team GB’s Preparation Camp in Aldershot will leave a great legacy for the town.”

 

 

 

Graham Blow, Managing Director of Aspire Defence Services Limited, who run the centre, said: “We are delighted and proud to be chosen to help Team GB in their final preparations for London 2012.

 

"The BOA’s decision is a ringing endorsement of the first class facilities and accommodation being provided at Aldershot and of the hard work put in by the partners in this bid.

 

 

 

"As anticipation builds in the weeks before the Games and the country reaches fever pitch, we will provide a focused and secure environment where Team GB can thrive.”