The British Olympic Association (BOA) revealed amid much fanfare in January 2007 that Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre had been selected to host a pre-Games preparation camp ahead of bids from Bath University, Loughborough University and Millfield School.

But with several leading sports having since publicly revealed that they plan to make alternative arrangements the BOA have now launched a consultation process to establish whether it is worth continuing with their plans.

Andy Hunt, the chief executive of the BOA, told insidethegames: "We are still going through the process with the sports and trying to understand their needs.

"They are thinking about what they are going to do in 2012 because some are in the unique position where they could actually prepare in their normal high-performance environment.

"Other sports are saying that they want to be away from the media glare and might choose to go into Europe."

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee has revealed that they are looking at several locations in Europe for a pre-Games training camp where they will be away from media intrusion and the pressures of everyday home life, which he fears could distract them.

He said: "We want to get away from the distractions of the UK in what will be a hugely intense build-up to the Games in our own country."

Athletics joined swimming, who had already announced they plan to base themselves abroad, including double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington, and rowing, who will also prepare elsewhere, in snubbing Aldershot.

With no facilities at the barracks to accommodate track cycling, whose team is likely to include Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton (pictured), and sailing it leaves the BOA with the prospect of holding a pre-Games preparation camp that will be attended by none of the sports expected to provide most of Britain's medals at London 2012.

Hunt said: "We are still working very closely with the sports evaluating that situation.

"We will come to a conclusion early next year.

"We keep everything in play at the moment."

Unlike previous pre-Games preparations camps - such as Macau before last year's Olympics in Beijing and Cyprus in the run-up to Athens 2004 - the BOA is not paying for Aldershot and need the major sports to be involved to make it work.

It would need to be underwritten by major contributions from the individual sports, who would use part of their National Lottery grants to fund it.

But the BOA would be able to scrap the idea of having a camp at Aldershot without suffering any financial penalties because the two parties have never signed an official agreement.

Hunt said: "We never actually contracted with Aldershot.

"We can't make the sports go there.

"The money that pays for preparation camps now sits with the sports.

"Our offering has to be attractive and the sports have to select to go to whatever preparation camp they choose.

"If they want to go to Aldershot they will have to choose to do so."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
September 2008: Olympic gold medallist praises 2012 pre-Games training camp
July 2008: Exclusive - Naming rights for 2012 Aldershot training camp may be sold off
January 2007: Bath - BOA made wrong decision
January 2007: BOA praised for selection of Aldershot
January 2007: Aldershot chosen to host Team GB in 2012