The BMC has welcomed the 2012 Olympics as great news for British sport and is now considering the opportunities and implications for climbing and mountaineering.

Whilst the activities under the BMC's umbrella are not Olympic sports, the next 7 years or so will certainly see sport pushed firmly up the political and media agenda and there may well be spin-offs. Few people will be aware that Mountaineering was in fact one of the original 10 or so sports identified when the Olympics were re-started in 1896. Research carried out by current UIAA President Alan Blackshaw has established that there was to be an Olympic Medal for Alpinism awarded every 4 years on the basis of advice from the Alpine Clubs. The 1922 British Mount Everest expedition was awarded the first one and there were 2 more, before the Medal was stopped in 1946 in the aftermath of the War.

Commenting on London 2012, BMC CEO, Dave Turnbull said: "The BMC has already begun a consultation process to clarify its position on the Olympics and we would welcome members views. On the one hand the ongoing funding of 'non medal winning' sports by UK Sport is a concern, but on the other there may be new and unexpected opportunities to benefit from the enhanced profile of sport within Government. There is no such thing as a 'demonstration' sport in the Olympics these days but other options such as pushing for a major climbing wall or a boulder park to be incorporated into the design of the 2012 facilities may have some promise."

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