Britain targets giants for Olympic gold in 2012

LONDON, Mar 2 (Reuters) Britain is targeting 'exceptionally tall' athletes to help the country meet its lofty gold medal target at the London 2012 Olympics.

A scheme launched this week by UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport is calling for 'sleeping giants' to take up rowing, handball and volleyball in the hope that they can be fast-tracked into becoming Olympic champions.

Detailing the requirements of the scheme on its website, UK Sport says it will only consider women measuring 5ft 11ins (1.80 metres) and men of 6ft 3ins (1.90 metres). Candidates must also be under the age of 25.

''We want to unearth the hidden talent of the six-foot plus variety...we have a unique opportunity to pluck individuals from relative sporting obscurity and provide the opportunity of a sporting lifetime,'' Chelsea Warr of UK Sport said.

British Olympic chiefs have identified fourth place in the medals table as the goal for the 2012 Olympics. In the Athens Games in 2004 Britain was 10th.

Height became a talking point in British sport last year when Liverpool's towering 6ft 7ins (2.0 metres) striker Peter Crouch established himself as something of a cult figure in the England squad and played at the World Cup finals.

Reuters SI DB2239