Branson scheme for medal hopefuls

Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will join Sir Richard Branson to launch a scheme for young athletes striving for gold at London 2012.

The Flying Start programme run by UK Sport and Virgin Atlantic Airways will give flight discounts and travel benefits to 450 medal hopefuls.

The package worth £6m is designed to ensure athletes can train and compete around the world.

There will also be a benefits package for 12 young rising stars.

They will help launch the scheme with Sir Richard and Dame Kelly at Heathrow airport in west London on Friday morning.

Dame Kelly who took gold medals in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said the support would be a great benefit.

"When you are a sports person, your life is led by travelling," she said.

"What this is going to enable them to do, is have a lot easier access to lounges so you can relax before you go on a flight because you want that flight to be as comfortable and as easy as possible."