• London 2012

British athletes to head to Portugal for Olympic preparation

ESPN staff
September 21, 2010
Dwain Chambers laughs as Charles van Commenee shares a joke with the press © Getty Images
Enlarge

Britain's top athletics coach Charles van Commenee has revealed that his Olympic squad will train in Portugal to maintain their focus ahead of London 2012.

Despite the British Olympic Association's partnership with Loughborough University to use the world-class sports facilities ahead of the Games in London in August 2012, Van Commenee has no intention of turning his back on his favoured Monte Gordo training base.

With other countries queuing up to secure UK locations for their pre-Games preparation camps, Van Commenee believes his team will benefit from time away from the distractions at home.

"We will go to Portugal before London," he told the Daily Mail. "It limits the distractions and guarantees good weather so we can get through our programme. I don't know why other nations are basing themselves over here."

Van Commenee revealed a change in attitude towards training has led to a team approach for London 2012.

"Athletes need structure," he said. "We go on camps together. They didn't like that at first. It is the ultimate individual sport. They wanted to go where they wanted, when they wanted. Now it is, 'Going where Charles says you are going'.

"In 2009 I had to force a dozen athletes into going to our holding camp in Monte Gordo in Portugal. This year everyone wanted to go. They have the best possible support there."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices