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Thursday, 20 July 2006 |
Great Britain searches for potential Olympic champions
Great Britain has launched a grassroots search for 20 potential Olympic champions in the build-up to the 2012 London Games and the nation has ambitious plans to reach fourth place in the 2012 medals table.
The Great Britain £500,000 nationwide '20-4-12' talent search is looking for 11-16 year-olds who might have the talent to reach the Olympic podium.
Great Britain rowing star Matthew Pinsent said: "If you find the right individual and the right sport, you can do an awful lot in six years."
By going through youth clubs, schools and national sports bodies, the talent search project leaders hope to sift through the hopefuls before finally picking 1,000 children to attend 100 talent camps.
The talent search scheme was developed from a similar one, which was used in Australia in the build-up to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
"Enthusiasm for sport in the run-up to the Games is greater than it has ever been." Matthew Pinsent said. "It is such an opportunity for sport in this country.
"Everyone agrees there are three Olympic nations we cannot reach - China, America and Russia.
"But there are countries such as Australia, Italy and Germany which are in the high teens in the (gold) medal table. We have got to beat them," Matthew Pinsent added.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 July 2006 )
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