London Latest - UK Athletics Boss Demands Better Performances; Building Legacy Blueprint

(ATR) UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee says more work needs to be done if British athletes are to meet the governing body's target of eight medals and one gold in track-and-field at the 2012 Olympics.

"We operate in a results driven business in which clear decisions have to be made if athletes are not performing to the high standards we set," Van Commenee said as he announced which athletes were to be supported by the the National Lottery-funded World Class Performance Program (WCPP) for 2011/12.

"We have reviewed performances from 2011 including those from previous years and identified what needs to be done in order to meet our targets for 2012," he added.

"Progress was made in 2011 but there is still work to be done before next August to make our athletes perform better. A target of eight medals including one gold still remains."

The WCPP selections across both Olympic and Paralympic programs categorize the athletes into two levels of funding: Podium and Development with both groups delivering against UK Sport funding requirements and strict performance targets.

Selection to Podium-level funding is focused entirely on achieving medal success and top eight finishes at next summer’s Games.

Daegu 2011 world champions Mo Farah and Dai Greene retain their places on Podium funding, while medalists at the world athletics championships Phillips Idowu, Jessica Ennis, Hannah England and Andy Turner also keep their places. Three-times IPC world champion David Weir is among 25 Paralympic athletes named at Podium level.

Van Commenee added: "The athletes selected onto the program will deservedly be given support from UKA and the National Lottery and these people will perform to the highest possible standard for the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team on the international stage.

"The funding made available to UKA from the National Lottery enables our athletes to work with the best coaches and other support staff to ensure they got the best possible preparation for when they pull on a Great Britain vest."

Legacy Plans for 2012 Olympic Delivery Authority

London 2012 organizers launched a blueprint Monday for the U.K. construction industry to maintain and replicate the high standards set by building work for the Olympics.

Learning Legacy is a collaborative approach among the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), contractors, professional institutes, government bodies and academia. The program will help businesses raise the bar in areas such as design and engineering, planning, procurement and project management.

The website will eventually become a comprehensive online library for companies of all shapes and sizes to refer to, providing a legacy for the ODA’s best practice.

"The Learning Legacy framework is the embodiment of a new benchmark that has been created in delivering Europe’s largest construction project to the ultimate deadline and within budget," said ODA chairman John Armitt.

"The scale and speed of the coordinated U.K. effort to build the venues and infrastructure is unprecedented and the knowledge and lessons gained during construction will both benefit the industry and act as a catalyst for inward investment."

"Africa House" in London

The first-ever continental house at an Olympics will host African athletes, fans, media and political leaders in London.

The Association of NationalOlympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) announced Monday that the house will be in Kensington Park and will receive visitors from 53 countries.

"We created Africa House to offer the National Olympic Committees and African athletes a unique opportunity to fully participate in the great Olympic festivities, whatever their means," ANOCA president Lassana Palenfo said in a statement.

"This area will act as an exceptional showcase for our continent, in the eyes of the public at large, the eight million visitors expected during the Games and also decision makers from around the world."

The house will be open to the public for the duration of the Game and will give fans the chance to meet African medal winners.

A planning application will be submitted to Westminster City Council later this year.

Coca-Cola, Visa Partners for 2012?

A Coca-Cola representative tells Around the Rings that the beverage company could partner with Visa to produce "cashless payment options" at the Olympics.

"We are currently exploring the opportunity of creating cashless vending options at the Olympic venues with Visa but cannot offer further detail at this time," says Sarah Margulies, senior manager of global brand public relations.

"We are working alongside Visa, our other fellow sponsors and the London Organizing Committee to ensure we deliver a spectacular and inspirational Games in 2012 and will continue to do so."

Reported by Mark Bisson and Ann Cantrell

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