LONDON, Sept 30: Britain is planning to end its exile from the Olympic football tournament by fielding men's and women's teams in the London Games in 2012, a century after its last success in the event.

Britain, which competes in international soccer via its English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish associations, has not entered a team for the Olympic qualifying competition since 1972 and not reached the finals since 1960 in Rome.

British Olympic Association (BOA) chief executive Simon Clegg was quoted as telling British newspapers on Saturday that a British women's team could play at the 2008 Games in Beijing, if they qualified via England's current World Cup campaign.

“The men's team now is not an issue in terms of Beijing, but my principle in terms of aspiration for 2012 is obviously to field the strongest possible team,” Clegg said.

“The (English) Football Association is fully behind this and the possibility of contributing to the medal table of 2012.

“And quite frankly that's absolutely right and proper. We want to field the strongest possible team in the men's and women's competition.”

Clegg's comments follow a meeting with BOA, FA and Northern Irish officials, though there were notable absences from the Scottish and Welsh associations.

Asked whether Scottish or Welsh women could ask the BOA directly to be considered for selection in 2008, Clegg said: “We haven't got to that stage yet.

“Let's address that if and when the girls eventually qualify for Beijing. I would hate for sports administrators to hold back their country's finest footballers – men or women – from participating in this great event.

“At the end of the day, as you are well aware, it is the British Olympic Association that selects the team for the Games.”

A longstanding stumbling block to a British Olympic team has been fears among the individual associations that it could lead to them eventually losing their places in competitions such as the World Cup and the European championship.—Reuters