By Simon Hart 6:58PM BST 26 Apr 2011
Comment
The start date for athletes to obtain the required qualifying standards for World Championships and Olympic Games has traditionally fallen in the preceding October, after the outdoor season has finished.
But this year the International Association of Athletics Federations has brought the date forward five months, which means times and distances recorded in this summer’s domestic Aviva Series, the Samsung Diamond League or at the World Championships in August will all count towards Olympic qualification.
Van Commenee said: “The changes to qualification periods are welcomed as athletes will have more opportunities to meet our standards, which are not easy to achieve, to produce the best from our team.
“I’m confident the 2011 season will produce some great performances from British athletes who, with just 458 days to go until the Games, are all striving to excel at the Olympic Games in London.”
OnTuesday, UK Athletics announced that its selection policy for the London Olympics would follow its tried and tested “first two past the post” format at next year’s trials from June 22-24.
Athletes finishing first and second will be automatically selected, providing they have achieved the ‘A’ qualifying standard or a top-eight finish at the World Championships. A selection panel will have the discretion to select a third athlete who has met the qualifying criteria.
If no British athlete achieves an ‘A’ standard in a particular discipline, the selectors can pick one athlete with the lower ‘B’ standard.
UK Athletics will use the same ‘A’ and ‘B’ standards as those stipulated by the IAAF with the exception of the men’s and women’s marathon, in which it has imposed tougher qualification times.