More than 30 workshops will take place across the four days with additional seminars and networking taking place. The conference, which begins with a dinner on Monday evening, traditionally attracts not only the leading figures from the UK, but also from around the world, to look at a range of factors that will have a bearing on the UK’s ability to deliver medals at the world’s major events, including London in six years time.

 

The prospect of London means the need for outstanding British coaches has never been greater. The induction of another 10 coaches into UK Sport’s Elite Coach in September kicked off one of the most intense periods of support the nation’s high-performance coaches have ever known.

 

“In many ways we see the role of the coach as being on a par with that of the athlete in terms of generating podium performances in Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012," said Liz Nicholl, UK Sport's director of performance. 

 

"With that in mind we are doing everything we can to increase the number of truly world class operators in the UK’s high-performance system. In recent years, the investment in Olympic and Paralympic sports via the world class pathway programmes has enabled sports to employ the best coaching talent from around the world.

 

"In future, the support we’re putting in place should mean that when sports go shopping for the best coaching talent, they find it right here at home.

 

“We are lucky to have an increasing band of truly world class athletes across our Olympic and Paralympic sports and they deserve world class support.

 

"In coaching, as well as in sports science and medicine, we are taking great strides to ensure that that is the case and the quality of those working in our system in six years time will be one of the great legacies from hosting the Games in 2012.”