It may be 18 months until the sailors are selected for the London 2012 Olympics, but the first member of Team GBR has already been announced.

A Peregrine Falcon was enlisted during the recent Sail for Gold regatta at the Olympic venue in Weymouth to scare away seagulls and ensure the sailors got a good night’s sleep.

And that proved such a success that Felix the Falcon has been asked to become a regular part of the team in the run up to the games.

Team manager Stephen Park (pictured above with Felix the Falcon and Olympic hopeful Giles Scott), said: ‘Felix will have to deliver a consistent performance to guarantee his place in Weymouth in 2012.

‘Seagulls are a natural part of the seaside environment, but the sheer quantity of them
around our accommodation block is a problem for us.

‘Felix will have his work cut out to ensure the sailors’ sleep isn’t disturbed. If he does
his job well, his place on the team is assured.’

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