Old boy and Goalkeeper for the British Men's Water Polo Team, Ed
Scott, has welcomed a decision to enter both the women's and men's
British water polo teams in the London 2012 Olympic Games,
following an absence of British Water Polo from the Olympics for 56
years.
The decision to permit British Swimming, the National Governing
Body for swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo and
open water in Great Britain, to utilise the Host Nation
Qualification Places for water polo was made by the British Olympic
Association's (BOA) Olympic Qualifying Standards Panel, which among
others includes Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt; the Chair of the
BOA Athletes Commission Sarah Winckless; and the BOA's Director of
Sport Sir Clive Woodward. The decision was made following
detailed consultation with British Swimming.
Ed, who plays for City of Manchester said: "It's fantastic news
for both teams and the whole sport, and is the culmination of all
the hard work and sacrifices every one of us has made. To play a
home Olympics is such a unique opportunity and we're all really
pleased that we will get to represent Team GB next year in the
sport that we love. Getting to showcase Water Polo on the world's
greatest stage will hopefully encourage more people to get involved
and help develop the sport throughout the country for years to
come."
Team GB Chef de Mission and BOA Chief Executive Andy Hunt said:
"Great Britain has not had a water polo team at an Olympic Games
since 1956 so I am thrilled that at the London 2012 Olympics we
will be able to change this. During the last few years the women's
and men's teams have played competitive matches against some of the
best teams in the world, achieving very promising results and
improving their world and European rankings. Both the women and men
have gained valuable experience playing regularly in Europe - the
women in the Hungarian league and the men as part of European clubs
- and have now increased their performance to a level at which we
are confident that they will perform credibly in the pool come
2012. London will also be an experience that the British players
will be able to capitalize on for their future development towards
the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond, particularly the
comparatively young men's team."
Sir Clive Woodward, Team GB Deputy Chef de Mission and BOA Director
of Sport, commented: "The commitment and results that both the
water polo teams have shown, and the innovative plans developed for
water polo by the national governing body, demonstrate that the
players will make the nation proud in 2012 and leave a long term
legacy for the sport in the UK."
David Sparkes, British Swimming Chief Executive said: "We are
delighted with the decision of the BOA to agree to take up the Home
Nation Qualification places for both the men's and women's teams in
London. There has been a massive effort by the players and the
sport to raise their game and take advantage of this opportunity.
We will continue to work hard with the teams to get the best
possible result from the Games and we will drive our legacy
programme even harder to ensure that after 56 years of absence from
the Olympics, British water polo secures a future for itself in the
Olympics."
Joining Ed in the GB squad for the 2012 Olympics will be fellow
Old Boys Rick Lawlor and Charles Booth.
Read their profiles below -
http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/water-polo/mens-profiles/edward-scott/483/
http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/water-polo/mens-profiles/richard-lawlor/488/
http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/water-polo/mens-profiles/charles-booth/7108/