Rowers won't stay in village - Olympic gold-grabbing ploy from Team GB - Sport

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British rowers expect to boast a 'competitive advantage' in Beijing after plans to stay outside the Olympic village were finally given the go-ahead.

The British Olympic Association have hired accommodation in the Shunyi district, just hundreds of yards from the rowing and canoe venue, to save the athletes from a daily commute of 22 miles each way.

Their long-established plans were cast into doubt last month when organisers in
China ruled teams were not allowed to stay outside the Olympic village.

Home from home: The Men's Four of Tom James, Steve Williams, Peter Reid and Andy Triggs-Hodge will not be in the Olympic Village after all

But BOA chef de mission Simon Clegg is confident the issue has been resolved
and that Team GB athletes will benefit.

'We have come up with an arrangement that will see the rowing team staying
outside the Olympic village to optimise performance and provide a competitive
advantage,' he said.

'The arrangements were put in place some years ago and were tested out at last
year's junior world championships with some considerable success and much to the
envy of other nations, who will find themselves commuting from the Olympic village on a daily basis.

'There were some issues about six to eight weeks ago. They have been resolved
to our satisfaction for NOC's (National Olympic Committees) who have had contractual arrangements in place for some time.

'My understanding is there will be no further arrangements between now and the
Games for people who don't have contractual arrangements in place.

'I am sure it will provide the British rowing team with a competitive advantage.'

Where will you be staying? Steve Williams discusses life outside the Village with Women's Quad rower Katherine Granger

The plans were formed in conjunction with British rowing's performance director
David Tanner and coach Jurgen Grobler.

Clegg stated he does not believe the Chinese authorities attempted to block the
off-site accommodation because of the advantage it could provide British athletes.

'It wasn't being done for a competitive advantage. It was wider than that,' Clegg added.

Britain's rowers stayed off site during their week of competition in Athens four years ago before moving into the Olympic village for the second week.

'Living out of the village will be very useful for us,' said Paul Mattick, one of the lightweight men's four that won gold at the 2007 world championships.

'The village is a big humming buzz of excitement and I think that would distract me quite a lot. I am really grateful for the ARA sorting out this other accommodation.'