Mike Hay to be Team GB’s Chef de Mission at Sochi 2014

Former international curler Mike Hay has been appointed as Team GB’s Chef de Mission at next year’s Winter Games in Sochi.

The Olympic medal-winning coach guided the women’s curling team to success at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

Hay received the unanimous backing of the British Olympic Association’s (BOA) Board of Directors and said: “It is an absolute honour to be asked to head up Team GB at the Sochi 2014 Olympics.

“My passion is winter sport and my ambition is to make sure that every single member of Team GB can perform to the best of his or her ability.”

Hay is currently the BOA’s Head of Sport Engagement and was director of Team GB’s preparation camp in Calgary ahead of the Vancouver Games in 2010.

He also held a similar role in Loughborough prior to London 2012.

BOA Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe commented: “Mike Hay is the perfect person for the job of Chef de Mission at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games: he is a former athlete, a former coach and a well-respected leader within winter sport, nationally and internationally.

“I know that Mike will deliver the best possible performance environment for our Team GB athletes in Sochi as he has already coached one team to a Winter Olympic gold medal – the women’s curlers in Salt Lake 2002.

“He knows what it takes to perform and to be a winner.”

Hay succeeds former BOA Chief Executive Andy Hunt who stepped down in February.