The British Olympic team for London 2012 will make its final preparations behind a ring of military steel at the Aldershot Army base west of the Olympic city.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) announced today that Aldershot has been chosen in preference to the centres of sporting excellence at Loughborough and Bath universities as the location for Team GB?s Preparation Camp immediately before the 2012 home Games.

The BOA stated:

The decision follows a comprehensive review that considered:

Proximity - a home for Team GB within easy access of the Olympic Village in Stratford; Availability of training venues and accommodation.
Suitability - providing facilities for many of the 26 Olympic sports to train at the same time.
Ethos - comfortable accommodation and associated facilities for leisure and recreation in a secure area immediately adjacent to the sport training facilities providing the sense of living in an Olympic Village.
Transport - the availability of a complete on-site transport fleet.
Medical - the availability of an on-site health care centre with services ranging from primary care to diagnostics.
Security - a safe and secluded environment.
Development potential (the Aldershot bid is a partnership comprising Aspire Defence, the Army and
Rushmoor Borough Council. Development at the site is part of a major PFI project planned for delivery over the next 35 years), and
Logistics - an area suitable for on-site processing (kitting out, car parking) of Team GB prior to moving into the Olympic Village.

Simon Clegg, BOA Chief Executive, said: 'After very careful deliberation over the past year our panel has concluded that Aldershot provides the very best package to meet the requirements of Team GB. In reaching this difficult decision we have taken into account a wide range of factors that experience has shown are likely to impact on performance and final preparation for the Games. We have been spoilt for choice in this process and any one of the short-listed sites offered us a better option than we have experienced at any previous Olympic Games. This was a very difficult decision for the BOA but we were delighted to find ourselves in such an envious position. Our desire is to continue to work closely with the University of Bath and Loughborough University as part of the national effort to deliver a highly successful Team GB in 2012. I would like to thank the Vice-Chancellors at both Universities for their cooperation in this process and look forward to having further discussions with them about how collectively we can best deliver the aspirations of our Olympic athletes through to 2012.'