26 April 2011

UKA today released the full 2012 London Olympic Selection Policy for all athletics disciplines, following changes to Olympic qualification periods by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The IAAF has increased the opportunity for athletes to reach standards, by five months, moving the qualification start date back from October 2011 to May 2011. This gives athletes a chance to use the domestic Aviva Series, a host of Samsung Diamond League meetings and also international competitions such as the IAAF World Championships in South Korea as qualification platforms.

The UKA 2012 London Olympic Selection policy stipulates automatic nomination for athletes claiming the first two places at the Aviva 2012 Athletics Trials (22-24 June 2012), provided that they hold a current “A” standard or that they place in the top eight at this years World Championships in Daegu (27 August- 4 September 2011).

If athletes do not qualify through a first or second place finish at the trials, they may also be eligible through meeting “A” or “B” standards during the qualification periods, as outlined in the policy.

UKA Head Coach Charles van Commenee said: “The changes to qualification periods are welcomed as athletes will have more opportunity to meet our standards, which are not easy to achieve, to produce the best from our team.

“I’m confident the 2011 season will produce some great performances from British athletes who, with just 458 days to go until the games, are all striving to excel at the Olympic Games in London.”

Selection will take place on Monday 2 July 2012 from which nominations will be passed onto the British Olympic Association for ratification and selection for TeamGB.

The 2012 London Olympic Games selection policy can be found at: http://www.uka.org.uk/world-class/2012-selection-policies/

For more information on the Aviva Series visit: http://www.uka.org.uk/aviva-series/home/