British 2012 Olympians Banned from Opening Ceremony

ESPN: Great Britain's athletes will not be allowed to attend the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.

The Games will open on July 27, a week before the athletics events begin on August 3, and UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee believes attending the Olympic curtain raiser it would be detrimental to the athletes' medal chances.

"It doesn't fit in the professional preparation for the biggest event of your life," van Commenee said. "In the end we are all aware that performance is No. 1. They can do the closing ceremonies.

"They would not go shopping for eight hours before their biggest event so why would you be on your feet for that long? There will be a few at that time coming back from altitude and who will be based in Loughborough, but you will not see track and field athletes on July 27 in London."

Van Commenee insists that despite the emotional draw of the opening ceremony at their home Games, the athletes are in support of the decision.

"Some are tempted because of the emotional, once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said. "There has been a little noise, but they know it's not feasible."