altTHE London 2012 Sports Advisory Group, chaired by Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards, met for the first time today to discuss plans for sports and athletes at the Games.

 

The Sports Advisory Group is a development of the Athletes' Advisory Group, which was established during the Bid phase. 

 

The Sport Advisory Group will meet to give advice and make recommendations about all matters relating to sport and athletes' needs. 

 

This will include athlete facilities at the Olympic Village, competition schedules, training camps and venues, the planning of test events, medical and doping services, recruiting of sport specific volunteers, and getting the right sporting legacy from the Games. 

 

They will make recommendations direct to the LOCOG board and the operations committee.

 

The Group is made up of Edwards, vice chairman Tanni Grey-Thompson, Simon Clegg, chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA), Phil Lane, chief executive of the British Paralympic Association (BPA), and John Steele, chief executive of UK Sport,  Ade Adepitan, Karen Pickering, Tim Henman, Simon Mason, and Debbie Jevans, LOCOG’s director of sport. 

 

Edwards said: "The Athletes Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Steve Redgrave, made a massive contribution during the Bid. 

 

"This important work will continue with the Sports Advisory Group and its membership has been broadened to include the BOA, BPA, and UK Sport. 

 

"The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are the greatest sporting events in the world.

 

"We must make sure that the London Games will be the best sporting experience for athletes and spectators alike and the Sport Advisory Group will make a vital contribution."

 

The Group will meet quarterly and received updates from London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and chief executive Paul Deighton and other senior officials on the progress made since winning the Games, the development of the Olympic Village, and venue design.