Harland, 32, who won her medal at the 2004 Games in Athens, joins fellow Olympian Bernie Cotton, who coached Britain's hockey team when they memorably won the Olympic gold medal at Seoul in 1988. 

Since her retirement from international competition in 2008 Harland has worked on enhancing athlete performance with GB Canoeing and serves as an Executive Board Member and chair of the Athletes Commission for the International Modern Pentathlon Federation.

"I am delighted to join the British Olympic Association and will aim to combine my on and off the field experience to work together with the national governing bodies to achieve our shared ambition; maximum success for Team GB athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games and beyond," said Harland.

Crook brings with her a wealth of sport liaison experience, gained during her time as chief operating officer at the British Paralympic Association.

The sport engagement team will act as the key point of contact between Olympic sports national governing bodies and the BOA.

They will coordinate Olympic Games requirements for the sport, including Olympic qualification standards, logistics, preparation camps and high performance services.

"The newly created sport engagement team will play a crucial role for Team GB in 2012 and beyond, liaising directly with the national governing bodies of Olympic sports," said Sir Clive Woodward, the director of sport at the BOA.

"The competitive environment in international sport is more challenging now than ever, so it is important we continue to raise our game to meet the needs of athletes and national governing bodies.

"I am delighted to welcome both Tanya Crook (pictured) and Georgina Harland to the team.
 
"There is no substitute for the experience gained during Games time and Tanya has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to prepare and lead successful British athletes from her position as deputy Chef de Mission for ParalympicsGB in Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010.

"Only those who have walked on to the Olympic field of play as an athlete can truly understand the pressure and demands placed upon an athlete and their sport, so it is great to harness the experience of another highly talented Olympic medallist within the BOA team in the shape of Georgina."

Crook was excited by her appointment.

"I am thrilled at the opportunity to lead the team of sport engagement managers and look forward to taking the BOA’s engagement with the national governing bodies to a new level at this exciting time for Olympic sport in the UK," she said.

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