Aldershot chosen to host Team GB in 2012

JANUARY 15 - ALDERSHOT is to host the preparation camp for Britain's team to compete in the 2012 Olympics, it will be confirmed today.

The decision to hold the camp at the Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre (pictured) will be announced at a press conference due to be held at lunchtime.

It will be attended by Simon Clegg, the chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA), Graham Blow, the managing director of Aspire Defence Services, Colonel Nigel Josling, representing the Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre, and Andrew Lloyd, the chief executive of Rushmoor Borough Council.

Insidethegames had reported that Aldershot was the favourite on December 14

Aldershot only emerged as a potential candidate to host the pre-2012 training camp in August, but with enthusiastic backing from General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, the military's bid to be the "finishing school" for the UK's elite performers has gathered momentum and has now emerged as the winner.

The BOA had also been considering bids from Bath and Loughborough Universities and Millfield School, all of which have state-of-the-art sporting facilities.

Team leaders from 16 Olympic sports visited the sprawling barracks in Hampshire last month and were impressed by the quality of both the sporting and accommodation facilities.

Aldershot is home to the Centre of Excellence for Army Sport, and has a new Olympic-standard 50 metre swimming pool (pictured), a 400 metres running track and field sports facilities, as well as two multi-sport indoor arenas.

The British synchronised swimming team is already based at the camp.

Security was also a major consideration, and with media interest in the 2012 games certain to surpass anything in the BOA's experience a secure army camp offers significant advantages over an open campus such as those at Bath and Loughborough.