Britain choose Cyprus as base camp for Athens

One of the factors behind British success at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney was thought to be the training camps on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, and yesterday the British Olympic Association announced a similar partnership with Cyprus.

Team GB's Preparation Camp ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games will be on the the Mediterranean island – and the link with élite British sport will extend beyond 2004. The partnership will allow British athletes to enjoy similar surroundings to the camps in Australia away from the intensity of Athens, in the build up to next year's Olympics. In addition, Olympic sports and athletes will be able to enjoy the facilities all year round.

Simon Clegg, Chief Executive of the BOA and Team GB's Chef de Mission for Athens 2004, said: "Today's announcement builds on the BOA's experience of the 2000 Olympic Games Preparation Camp on the Gold Coast and Brisbane, with top quality training facilities in a safe and secure environment where British athletes will feel very much at home.

"These factors, coupled with favourable climatic conditions and ease of access to and from the UK, enable us to be extremely confident that Cyprus will become a major training base for years to come."

Donna Fraser, a 400 metres finalist in Sydney, said: "The Gold Coast was a fantastic venue to prepare for the Sydney Olympics. I believe that the relaxed but focused time I spent up there had a direct impact on my performance. In the same way, Cyprus will give us an excellent build up."