THE BARBADOS OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION (BOA) has invited 40 young athletes to participate in a special exercise to prepare themselves for the London Olympic Games which are scheduled

for 2012.

The athletes, aged

14 to 18 years, have been identified as potential national representatives within their respective disciplines.

They were selected

by national federations

to attend an orientation camp at the Regional Police Training Centre, Paragon, which starts today and runs through the following Friday.

The camp is being conducted in association with the Barbados Cadet Corps and has been organised by the Olympic Solidarity Subcommittee of the BOA.

"It will be a full time, live-in arrangement (similar to a Games Village)," said Colonel Trevor Browne, director

of the programme.

"Participants will undergo intense training in a number of important areas designed to prepare them for the world of international competitive sports and to represent Barbados as ambassadors.

"It has long been planned that in addition

to making provisions

for national athletes

to attend such major games, the BOA

would seek to provide

the required orientation and foundation

to support the technical coaching and training normally associated with preparing such athletes." (PR)