By Tom Degun at the Main Press Centre on the Olympic Park in London

Alan Ashley_14_JulyJuly 15 - Alan Ashley, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) chief of sport performance, claimed that he is not concerned about the heavy rain that is already being forecast for the London 2012 Olympics.

Britain has been hit by constant rain over the last few months which has caused damage and flooding across several parts of the country.

This month is set to be the wettest July on record with the rain predicted to continue through the Olympic Games when they start on July 27, but Ashley (pictured top) , whose team are likely to be strong contenders to top the medal table at London 2012, said it should not cause many problems for his athletes.

"I think the good thing is that most of the sports have already competed in London in the rain and have made their own preparations for it," he said.

"It is something you cannot control obviously, but on the other side of the coin the weather is not unusual [for London] so everybody has thought about it and prepared for it.

"If you take the US track and field trials in Eugene (pictured below) as an example, it was little bit rainy there but that wasn't too bad because it gave the athletes the chance to compete at a high level in conditions that may be similar to those they are required to compete in when they get to London.

US track_and_field_trials_in_Eugene_14_July
"It is a pretty sport by sport strategy but I have to say they have all competed in it and know what to expect."

Ashley admitted it will be tough for Americans to win the most gold medals and overall medals at the London 2012 Olympics with China set to provide them with a stern test.

"It is very ambitious, very difficult for us to win the most gold medals and overall medals at London 2012," he said.

"But it's good to have those stretch goals as an organisation so that it what we are aiming for."

The United States won 110 medals compared to China's 100 medals in Beijing four years ago but the home country claimed 51 golds claimed to America's 36, meaning that they finished top.

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