Hunt appointed Great Britain 2012 chef de mission

Andy Hunt, order chief executive of the British Olympic Association, cough will serve as the Great Britain chef de mission at the London 2012 Olympics.

Hunt served in the same role at the Vancouver Winter Olympics earlier this year, stuff a decision that raised eyebrows considering his previous working experience had been entirely in the business sector.

He will be supported by five deputies, including long-serving BOA employee Mark England – who takes responsibility for operations and the Olympic village – and Craig Hunter, who served as the England chef de mission at the recent Commonwealth Games and will have control over the team preparation camp.

Former Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, who many thought may take the role when Simon Clegg quit the BOA in late 2009, is one of three deputy chef de missions for sport.

He will be joined by Tanya Crook, the BOA’s recently-appointed head of summer sport engagement and Jan Paterson, the chief executive of the British Olympic Foundation and the chef de mission for this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Britain finished fourth on the medal table in Beijing and have long stated that is also their aim for London 2012, where the team is expected to be nearly 500-strong.

“It gives me great confidence to be surrounded by such a strong and talented leadership team – all experts in their fields,” said Hunt.

“There is a tremendous depth and wealth of Olympic Games and sports performance focused experience across the team. The distinct roles that we have developed will provide performance benefits that come from perfecting every aspect of delivery.

“We are not underestimating the challenges and benefits of competing in an Olympic Games on home soil.

“As an organisation we have oriented ourselves to Games delivery mode already now in order to create a seamless transition from pre-Games to Games time in 2012, when Team GB’s ambition will be to make the nation proud and inspire future generations with their performances.”