Ainslie Handed Golden Opportunity

Ben Ainslie has been handed the chance to compete for his third Olympic gold medal after the sailor was today picked as one of the first nine members of the British team for August's Beijing Games.

Ainslie's inclusion at the expense of Ed Wright had been expected and he now has the chance to add to the golds he won in Athens and Sydney, and the silver at Atlanta in 1996.

The athletes named by the British Olympic Association are all sailors. They are: Ainslie (Finn class), Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson (Yngling), Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes (49er), Paul Goodison (Laser), and Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson (Star).

BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said: "Sailing is one of our core sports, one which has medaled consistently over many years, and which claimed five medals at the Athens 2004 Olympics. "The disappointing thing is that in this particular sport each country is limited to one boat in each class. We have considerable strength in depth but it is the International Sailing Federation's decision to limit the number of athletes in each class to one boat."

Ainslie, 30, won the two test regattas at the Olympic sailing venue Qingdao in 2006 and 2007. "It is fantastic news to be chosen to defend my Olympic Finn title in Beijing, and I am very honored to be given the opportunity to once again represent my country at the Olympics," he said.

Ainslie added he was keen to compete at the London Olympics in 2012 but he is also contracted to Team Origin to sail in the America's Cup, which could possibly conflict with him qualifying.