The British Olympic Association (BOA) are delighted to confirm that Her Majesty The Queen has kindly agreed to host a unique evening reception for all British Olympic medal winners at Buckingham Palace on March 23rd, 2005, to celebrate the centenary of the BOA.

The British Olympic Association was formed at a meeting in the House of Commons on 24th May 1905. Her Majesty, who became the Association’s Patron in July 1952, has regularly hosted receptions for Team GB on their successful return from the Olympic Games, most recently last November following Team GB’s return from Athens.

Over 500 invitations have been extended to British Olympic medal winners, both past and present, including our most recent Olympic medal winners from Athens. Dorothy Tyler, who won a Silver medal in the high jump as a sixteen-year-old at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, is one of the invited medallists.

She said: “I am delighted to have been invited to what will surely prove to be a special evening for Olympic sport. Winning my medal in Berlin has stayed with me because I was so young and enjoying a wonderful experience. I look forward to meeting my friends for this celebration of sport”.

Simon Clegg, the Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association, said: “We are delighted that Her Majesty has decided to acknowledge our centenary in this way. This will be a unique occasion to mark an historic milestone in our history. Never before will so many Team GB medallists have gathered together and it promises to be a very special evening.”

This event is the first of a number planned to celebrate the historic
centenary of the BOA. More details will follow concerning other centenary events.

For more information please call Philip Pope at the BOA’s Media Office on 0208 8712677 ext 233