Philip Boakes made his call at a meeting of the British Olympic Association this week when he revealed that the GBTSF are trying to put together an alternative to the world famous Bisley Shooting Centre in Surrey, which staged the Commonwealth Games in 2002 but which the International Olympic Committee rejected because they believe is too far away from the Athletes Village to be a venue for the Games.

 

 

 

Boakes does not feel that the venue in Woolwich will provide the sport with any legacy after 2012 and is currently trying to persuade the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) to consider another site, believed to be in either Dartford or an unnamed location in Hertfordshire, closer to the Village.

 

 

 

The campaign is supported by Lord Colin Moynihan, the chairman of the British Olympic Association and a member of the ruling four-person Olympic board.

 

 

 

“There is another venue that is being put together by the governing body, details of which have not been finalised that is close to the Olympic Village,” Moynihan told insidethegames.

 

 

 

“The proposal is to provide a legacy for shooting over and above a temporary venue at Woolwich. I’m hesitant to go into greater detail because it is in the process of being formulated.

 

 

 

LOCOG looked at it very closely during the bid phase. They were conscious that the IOC was very keen to have as many sports served from the Olympic Village, which Bisley would not have been able to do.

 

 

 

“LOCOG have a contract – that contract has a temporary facility for shooting. It doesn’t mean it is not capable of being changed. There is an internal process which LOCOG, the international federation, the BOA, the governing body and the IOC must follow.

 

“That process will continue throughout this year. I am not over-optimistic about a change but I think it’s important all the options are considered.”

 

 

 

But a spokeswoman for LOCOG insisted no alternative would be considered. “London 2012 has no intention of moving the shooting venue from Woolwich,” she said. “It was moved from originally Bisley to Woolwich because of the strong IOC guidance about the importance of compact venues and the need to be close to the Olympic Village. 

 

 

 

“Proposals for Woolwich have been signed off by the international shooting federation and we do not intend to move the shooting venue now.”