Great Britain will have up to five weightlifters competing at the London Olympics after the BOA gave them the green light.
Team GB can have up to five weightlifters involved in London Olympics
Great Britain will have up to five weightlifters competing at the London Olympics after the British Olympic Association agreed to use the qualification places allocated to the home nation.
Three male lifters and two females will be able to take part in London 2012 for Team GB providing they meet the qualifying standards and would be credible competitors.
The news is a huge boost for British weightlifting, who have convinced the BOA they will not only supply athletes who will produce strong showings but also build a legacy in the sport by appearing in the Olympics.
"It's great news to hear the British Olympic Association has given us their backing and guaranteed host nation places," said Great Britain weightlifting head coach Tamas Feher.
"It's great to get recognition for the athletes that all their hard work is being noticed.
"I want to thank the BOA for giving us the opportunity to compete at the Olympics in 2012. The athletes train so hard and they will all do their best for Great Britain."
Stepped up
Team GB chef de mission and BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said that having four lifters inside the top ten at the European Championships shows how the sport has been progressing.
"British weightlifters have come a long way since 2007 when there were no athletes in the top 10 at the European Championships; last year three female and one male athlete finished in the top 10 at the Europeans," said Hunt.
"In terms of participation, British Weightlifting has played their part in making sure more people across the nation can engage in the sport: weightlifting now has 77 clubs, with 23 of those added in the last two years.
"We are confident that the sport will do its utmost to capitalise on the opportunity that competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games presents."
The news should pave the way for teenage weightlifter Zoe Smith to take her chance in London, after she claimed bronze at the Commonwealth Games last year aged just 16.
Chances
Scottish weightlifter Peter Kirkbride won Commonwealth Games silver last year and is desperate to earn one of those five places up for grabs for London.
"It's fantastic news for the sport of weightlifting to be recognised in this way," he said. "We've been around for hundreds of years and it's going to be great to be at the home Games in 2012.
"We're all training hard to make sure we are the athletes chosen to fill those Olympic places.
"It's going to be great whoever goes, but for us as individuals we still have to qualify so the pressure is not off us."
