Sayers, who finished fourth in the Olympics in Beijing, is joined by Jason Gardener, a member of the British 4x100 metres relay squad that won the gold medal at Athens in 2004.

 

Also elected were Georgina Harland, the 2004 Olympic Modern Pentathlon bronze medallist, and Graham Gristwood Graham Gristwood, the country's top orienteer whose job will be to represent Britain's non-Olympic sports.

 

The committee's chairman is Karen Pickering, who won a record 34 international championship medals during her 19-year international career.

 

The BAC have also relaunched their website and expanded its athlete benefits scheme.

 

Pete Gardner, the former Olympic rower who is the chief executive of the BAC, said, “The new websites offers a higher level of interaction with our membership and the national governing bodies for each sport. 

 

"It also provides a perfect platform for our benefits scheme partners to advertise their athlete discounts. 

 

"We have carefully selected specific sectors to ensure a true benefit is realised by the athlete community and the partners. 

 

"Lloyds TSB, Friends Provident, Charles Porter/O2, Thomas Cook, InterContinental Hotels Group, GM Vauxhall Leasing, Enterprise-rent-a-car, Europcar, Premier Training, Physical Fix, Canterbury Clothing and Natural Balance Foods have already signed up.

 

"We will continue the search for partners in a number of specific sectors.” 

 

The partner offer discounts of up 50 per cent to the 1,500 Lottery Funded athletes and 400 Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme (TASS) .

 

Pickering said: "The BAC are now not only delivering a top class service to our members but establishing what we hope will be long lasting partnerships in the corporate community."

 

The relaunched website can be viewed at www.britishathles.org.